Addressing the convention, Cruz congratulated Trump, but did not endorse him, drawing boos from the audience of delegates and chants of “Vote for Trump!” and “Go Home!” On July 20, 2016, Cruz delivered a controversial speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, one day after Trump officially won the party’s presidential nomination. 'Tonight, I am sorry to say, it appears that path has been closed.' Controversy at the Republican Convention 'From the beginning, I have said that I will continue on as long as there is a viable path to victory,' Cruz told his supporters.

However, after losing the Indiana primary to Trump in May, Cruz suspended his campaign. With the field shrinking, he announced Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlitt-Packard CEO, as his vice-presidential running mate in April. The Texas senator scored an important victory in his pursuit of the presidency in February 2016 by edging out fellow Republican hopeful Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses. Regarding the issue of climate change, he acknowledged that climate change is real, though he also questioned the scientific evidence of its causes and impact as presented by the “global warming alarmists.” 'Instead of a federal government that works to undermine our values, imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life, and to uphold the sacrament of marriage,' he said in a speech announcing his run for president.Ĭruz also favored abolishing the IRS and instituting a flat tax system. On social issues, Cruz is pro-life and has stated his belief in “marriage between a man and a woman.” He opposes abortion and same-sex marriage. 'Imagine instead millions of people of faith all across America coming out to the polls and voting our values.' His words struck a chord with many on the religious right, and the day after his announcement his campaign brought in approximately $1 million in donations. 'Today, roughly half of born-again Christians aren't voting,' he said, according to CBS News. He then appeared at Liberty University, a Christian college founded by Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell, to rally the faithful to his side. In March 2015, Cruz officially announced his candidacy for president over Twitter. In 2014, Cruz renounced his dual Canadian citizenship, though his eligibility to run for president was not in jeopardy. He also used his time to read a story to his daughters and share passages from one of his favorite books, Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. Holding the Senate floor, Cruz tried to convince his colleagues to cut funding for the program. He was instrumental in bringing about the government shutdown that year after his 21-hour speech against President Barack Obama's healthcare plan. Cruz came in second to Dewhurst in the first round of voting, but he won in the run-off election.Īfter taking office in 2013, Cruz made a name for himself with his speeches and tactics. But his ultra-conservatism won him the support of leading Tea Party figures like Sarah Palin and Rand Paul, who campaigned for him. He initially appeared to be an underdog, taking on fellow Republican and Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Supreme Court during his five years in the post, his victories including a case from 2008 in which he advocated for the preservation of the death penalty for a Mexican citizen convicted of raping and murdering two teenage girls.Ĭruz then returned to private practice briefly before launching his own campaign for the Senate. He argued a total of eight cases before the U.S. In 2003, Cruz became the solicitor general of Texas.

Texas senator ted cruz