Senate · TX

Rafael Edward Cruz

R · TXAge 55· Conservative; identified with Tea Party / MAGA-era movement

Ted Cruz has represented Texas in the U.S. Senate since January 2013, winning re-election in 2018 and 2024. Before the Senate he served as Solicitor General of Texas (2003-2008), arguing nine cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, winning 11 state primaries and finishing second to Donald Trump. In the Senate he was a primary participant in the 2013 government shutdown over ACA defunding and delivered a 21-hour floor speech opposing the ACA on September 24-25, 2013. He objected to certification of Pennsylvania's electoral votes on January 6, 2021, voting to sustain the objection after the Capitol breach. He is among the most-recognized Republican senators nationally.

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The Featured Four

Promises that define the record.

Four promises chosen to span how voters across the political spectrum view this politician's record.

PartialHealthcarePROMISE #1

Repeal Obamacare — lead the fight to repeal every word.

Verdict reasoning

Cruz voted YES on every ACA repeal measure during his tenure. The 'skinny repeal' failed 49-51 on July 28, 2017 when three Republican senators voted NO (McCain, Collins, Murkowski). Cruz took the actions available within his caucus's authority; the promised outcome (repeal) was blocked by same-caucus defection. The TCJA (December 2017) did zero out the individual mandate penalty. The full repeal Cruz promised did not occur; legislative routes failed by same-caucus defection, and the Texas v. Azar lawsuit Cruz supported was rejected 7-2 by the Supreme Court.

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The ACA repeal promise was Cruz's defining domestic-policy commitment from his 2012 campaign onward. The 2013 government shutdown was a direct outgrowth of the promise — Cruz led a Senate effort to attach ACA defunding to the continuing resolution. The shutdown ran October 1-17, 2013, ending with the ACA fully funded. After the 2016 election, with unified Republican control of the House, Senate, and White House, repeal moved from rhetorical position to legislative possibility. The decisive vote was the 'skinny repeal' on July 28, 2017. Cruz voted YES. The bill failed 49-51. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) cast the deciding NO vote at approximately 1:30 AM, joining Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). After the legislative repeal effort failed, the Trump administration's DOJ — joined by 18 Republican-led states — filed Texas v. Azar in February 2018. Cruz publicly supported the lawsuit. If successful, the suit would have eliminated coverage for approximately 20 million Americans and ended pre-existing-condition protections for 133 million Americans. The Supreme Court rejected the challenge 7-2 in California v. Texas (June 17, 2021), with Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett — both confirmed with Cruz's YES vote — joining the majority. The promise produced sustained effort, a 21-hour speech, a government shutdown, a near-miss legislative attempt, and a Supreme Court case. The promised outcome — full repeal — did not occur. Cruz's own voting record never contradicted the promise.

KeptGun PolicyPROMISE #2

Defend the Second Amendment from any new federal restrictions.

Verdict reasoning

Cruz voted NO on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, June 23, 2022). He voted NO on the Manchin-Toomey background-check amendment (April 17, 2013). He has not voted YES on any federal gun-control measure during his tenure. He has consistently received 'A' or 'A+' ratings from the NRA.

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The Second Amendment vote record protected a stated right that has documented stakes from both perspectives. Stakes that gun-rights advocates foreground: Approximately 80 million Americans own firearms. Approximately 22 million Americans own AR-style rifles specifically, the category targeted by some federal proposals. Estimated 500,000 to 2.5 million defensive gun uses per year depending on methodology. Cruz's votes protected the legal status quo for these gun owners. Stakes that gun-control advocates foreground: The United States recorded approximately 48,000 gun deaths in 2022. Texas has experienced multiple high-casualty mass shootings during Cruz's tenure: El Paso Walmart (2019, 23 killed), Sutherland Springs church (2017, 26 killed), Uvalde (2022, 21 killed including 19 children and 2 teachers), Allen mall (2023, 8 killed). The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that Cruz voted against (2022) is estimated to prevent approximately 200-500 gun deaths annually. The verdict KEPT reflects vote-record alignment with the stated promise. The stakes on both sides are documented; the reader weighs them against personal values.

BrokenFiscal PolicyPROMISE #6

Hold the line on federal spending and the national debt.

Verdict reasoning

Cruz voted YES on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (CBO-projected $1.9T deficit increase over 10 years) and YES on the CARES Act ($2.2T, March 2020). He voted NO on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The fiscal-restraint promise produced selective votes (NO on opposing-party spending, YES on own-party spending). The aggregate outcome was not achieved. His own affirmative votes on TCJA and CARES contributed to deficits.

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The fiscal-restraint promise is structurally similar across both parties: senators of both caucuses run on opposing federal debt, then vote for legislation that increases it. In 2017, Cruz voted YES on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The CBO scored the legislation as adding approximately $1.9 trillion to deficits over 10 years on a static basis. The corporate rate cut from 35% to 21% was projected to be the largest contributor. In March 2020, Cruz voted YES on the CARES Act ($2.2 trillion). The vote in the Senate was 96-0 — an emergency pandemic response. Cruz voted NO on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (November 2021). He voted NO on the Inflation Reduction Act (August 2022). The verdict BROKEN reflects the aggregate-outcome standard applied uniformly: did fiscal restraint occur during your tenure given your votes? It did not. His selective voting record allowed him to oppose specific Democratic bills while supporting Republican bills that contributed to the same aggregate outcome.

BrokenElectionsPROMISE #16

Defend election integrity.

Verdict reasoning

The promise was to defend election integrity. Cruz's actions on January 6-7, 2021 contradicted that promise in two specific ways: (1) the objections to certified state electoral results lacked evidentiary support from the courts that had reviewed them, and (2) the vote to sustain those objections was cast AFTER the Capitol had been breached by rioters seeking to halt the certification process. Cruz subsequently voted NO on the Electoral Count Reform Act (December 22, 2022, 88-11).

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On January 6, 2021, Congress convened to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Cruz had announced on January 2, 2021, that he and 10 other Republican senators would object to certification of certain states' electoral votes and propose a 10-day audit commission. Cruz's stated framing: this was a procedural mechanism for review of contested results, modeled on the 1877 Hayes-Tilden electoral commission. At the time of the announcement, approximately 60 election-related lawsuits had been filed by the Trump campaign and allies between November 2020 and January 2021; 59 were dismissed, withdrawn, or ruled against. Judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents — including three Trump appointees — ruled against the campaign. The Senate convened at 1:00 PM on January 6. Cruz objected to Arizona's electoral votes. At approximately 2:13 PM, the U.S. Capitol was breached by rioters who had attended an earlier rally near the White House. At the rally, President Trump said: 'We're going to walk down to the Capitol... We fight like hell.' He also said: 'I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.' Both phrases are in the public record. During the approximately 4-hour breach: 140 police officers were injured. One protester, Ashli Babbitt, was fatally shot. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes the day after; the DC Medical Examiner linked his death to the stress of the events. Four officers who responded subsequently died by suicide within seven months. Approximately 1,500 people have been charged with crimes related to the events. When the Senate reconvened, seven Republican senators who had announced intentions to object before the breach withdrew their objections after; six (including Cruz) continued. Cruz voted YES to sustain the Arizona objection; it failed 6-93. Cruz voted YES to sustain the Pennsylvania objection; it failed 7-92. The Electoral Count Reform Act passed December 22, 2022 (88-11). Cruz voted NO. The verdict BROKEN rests on documented action (post-breach YES vote) and the subsequent vote against legislation specifically designed to strengthen certification.

Full Inventory

All tracked promises

KeptFiscal Policy

Cut taxes for working Texans / oppose tax increases.

Cruz voted YES on TCJA (December 2017). He voted NO on the Inflation Reduction Act tax provisions. He has not voted YES on any federal tax increase during his tenure.

PartialImmigration

Build the wall and secure the southern border.

Cruz consistently voted for border wall funding. Approximately 450 miles of barrier system was constructed during the 2017-2021 period, mostly replacement. Construction halted under Biden on Day 1 (January 20, 2021). The promised complete wall was not achieved; post-2021 obstruction came from Biden administration executive action.

KeptJudiciary

Confirm conservative judges to the federal bench.

Cruz voted YES on confirmation of Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, and 234+ federal judges confirmed during Trump's administration.

PartialImmigration

End sanctuary city policies.

Cruz co-sponsored multiple measures conditioning federal funding on local ICE cooperation. Some grants were tied to immigration cooperation; courts blocked the most aggressive efforts. Federal sanctuary-city policy was not changed at scale.

KeptReproductive Rights

Oppose abortion / support overturning Roe v. Wade.

Cruz voted YES on Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett — all joined the Dobbs majority. He consistently opposed federal abortion-rights legislation.

You DecideInvestigationsInferred

Hold the Biden family accountable.

Cruz used Judiciary Committee position to request investigations. Hunter Biden was convicted on federal gun and tax charges in 2024. Whether Cruz's actions specifically caused or accelerated outcomes is contested.

#10

PartialEnergy

Restore American energy independence.

U.S. became net energy exporter in 2019. Cruz voted YES on permitting expediting measures. Post-2021 Biden policies reduced federal leasing; Cruz introduced reversing measures that did not pass.

#11

PartialConstitutional

Oppose unconstitutional executive overreach regardless of party.

Cruz opposed Obama executive actions (DACA, Clean Power Plan); generally supported Trump-era executive actions; opposed Biden-era executive actions. Stated as non-partisan principle; application was partisan-selective.

#13

You DecideTech

Hold tech companies accountable for censorship of conservative voices.

Cruz introduced multiple Section 230 reform proposals. None became law. Empirical studies disagree on systematic anti-conservative bias on platforms. Verdict depends on which empirical premise is accepted.

#14

PartialGovernment Reform

Support term limits for Congress.

Cruz co-sponsored term-limits constitutional amendments; none advanced past committee. The 'lead by example' interpretation (self-limit) was not pursued — he is serving his third term.

#15

PartialProcess

Stand up to establishment Republicans when needed.

Cruz publicly challenged McConnell-led Senate leadership in 2013-2016; 2018-2024 pattern shifted toward party-leadership alignment on most major votes.

#17

PartialRegulation

Reduce regulations on small businesses.

Cruz voted YES on multiple Congressional Review Act resolutions overturning Biden-era regulations. He voted YES on TCJA and 2018 S. 2155 banking deregulation. No comprehensive small-business regulatory reform passed.

#18

KeptReligious Liberty

Defend religious liberty.

Cruz supported Trump-era religious-liberty executive orders, the HHS Conscience Division, and multiple amicus filings on religious-liberty cases. The Supreme Court issued aligned rulings in 303 Creative (2023), Kennedy v. Bremerton (2022), and others. The verdict reflects vote-record alignment with the stated promise.

#19

KeptForeign Policy

Support Israel and oppose Iran nuclear program.

Cruz voted to withdraw from JCPOA, supported Jerusalem embassy move and Abraham Accords, co-sponsored Iran-sanctions measures.

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