Texas U.S. Senator (Class 1) — Rafael Edward Cruz

Rafael Edward Cruz was born December 22, 1970, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to a Cuban-born father and American-born mother. He earned his B.A. from Princeton University (1992) and his J.D. from Harvard Law School (1995), where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. Cruz served as Texas Solicitor General (2003-2008), arguing eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, becoming the first Hispanic-American senator from Texas.

Secure the Texas-Mexico border and stop illegal immigration

Status: in-progress

Cruz proposed splitting ICE and CBP funding from broader DHS appropriations in March 2026 to ensure continued border enforcement funding. He highlighted Trump administration achievements including 99% reduction in illegal border crossings and $170 billion in One Big Beautiful Bill Act funding for border/interior law enforcement with new detention and processing centers.

Defend freedom, create jobs, and ensure national security

Status: ongoing

Cruz characterizes his record as focused on 'limited government, economic growth, and national security.' He authored/co-sponsored the TAKE IT DOWN Act (signed into law 2025), LIP Enhancement Act of 2025, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, and Student Empowerment Act. GovTrack notes he has sponsored bills primarily in International Affairs (25%), Taxation (14%), Armed Forces and National Security (13%), and Government Operations (12%). However, he missed 436 of 4,839 roll call votes (9.0%) from 2013-2026, significantly worse than the median of 2.8% for sitting senators.

Lower costs of living and address inflation

Status: ongoing

Cruz's 2024 campaign emphasized prioritizing 'jobs and the cost of living' as main concerns. He cited criticism of Biden inflation policies and support for pro-growth legislation. However, specific legislative achievements on cost-of-living issues are limited. He voted against the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, stating it 'falls far short' of the goal of lowering housing costs.

Protect Second Amendment rights and constitutional liberties

Status: ongoing

Cruz introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) with bipartisan co-sponsors (January 2025) to set a minimum age of 13 for social media and prevent algorithmically-targeted content to users under 17. He led an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold the Second Amendment by preventing New York from bypassing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (2025). However, on gun safety, he repeatedly blocks legislation, claiming he has 'introduced legislation' to protect children while blocking Democratic proposals.

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Senator Tracker· Class 1
Rafael Edward Cruz

Rafael Edward Cruz

Republican (R)In office since 2025-01-03· Term ends 2031-01-03

Rafael Edward Cruz was born December 22, 1970, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to a Cuban-born father and American-born mother. He earned his B.A. from Princeton University (1992) and his J.D. from Harvard Law School (1995), where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. Cruz served as Texas Solicitor General (2003-2008), arguing eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, becoming the first Hispanic-American senator from Texas.

Previously:Solicitor General of Texas (2003-2008)Policy Advisor, George W. Bush 2000 Presidential CampaignLaw Clerk, Chief Justice William Rehnquist (1996-1997)Associate Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
Committees:Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (Chair, since 2025)Senate Judiciary CommitteeSenate Foreign Relations Committee
Approval Rating
52%
Morning Consult / Newsweek analysis (October 2025)
Agenda Progress
0 / 4
promises completed
At a Glance

Rafael Edward Cruz was born December 22, 1970, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to a Cuban-born father and American-born mother. He earned his B.A. from Princeton University (1992) and his J.D. from Harvard Law School (1995), where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. Cruz served as Texas Solicitor General (2003-2008), arguing eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, becoming the first Hispanic-American senator from Texas.

📋 4 tracked promises📝 12 recent actions⚠ 8 controversies⚠ 3 contradictions

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◆ Sources

Senate.gov - Class I SenatorsCongress.gov - Ted CruzGovTrack - Ted CruzWikipedia - Ted CruzTed Cruz Official Senate WebsiteTed Cruz Campaign WebsiteTexas Tribune - Coverage of Cruz Elections and RecordBallotpedia - Ted Cruz
Last updated: 2026-04-10