Career Timeline of Ted Cruz: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Ted Cruz, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Ted Cruz, born Rafael Edward Cruz, is an American politician and attorney. He has served as the junior United States Senator from Texas since 2013, affiliated with the Republican Party. Prior to his senatorial role, Cruz was the Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to 2008. He is a prominent figure in American politics, known for his conservative views and impactful presence in the Senate.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

1995: Law clerk for Judge J. Michael Luttig

From 1995 to 1996, Ted Cruz served as a law clerk for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

1996: Law clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist

In 1996, Ted Cruz began serving as a law clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court.

1997: Concludes clerkship with Chief Justice Rehnquist

In 1997, Ted Cruz concluded his clerkship with Chief Justice William Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court, marking the end of a significant phase in his legal career.

1997: Joins Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal

In 1997, Ted Cruz started working in private practice as an associate at the law firm Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal (now Cooper & Kirk, PLLC).

1998: Involved in John Boehner litigation

In 1998, Ted Cruz was briefly one of the attorneys who represented Representative John Boehner during his litigation against Representative Jim McDermott.

1999: Joins George W. Bush presidential campaign

In 1999, Ted Cruz joined the George W. Bush presidential campaign as a domestic policy adviser, marking his entry into national-level politics.

1999: Establishment of the Solicitor General office

In 1999, the Texas Solicitor General's office was established to handle appeals involving the Texas state government.

2000: Assists in Florida presidential recounts

During the 2000 Florida presidential recounts, Ted Cruz assisted in assembling the Bush legal team, devising strategy, and drafting pleadings for filing with the Supreme Court of Florida and U.S. Supreme Court in the case Bush v. Gore. He recruited future chief justice John Roberts and noted attorney Mike Carvin to Bush's legal team.

2003: Appointed Texas Solicitor General

In 2003, Greg Abbott, the Texas Attorney General, appointed Ted Cruz to serve as the Solicitor General for the state of Texas. This marked a significant step in Cruz's career in public service.

2003: Defends Texas congressional redistricting plan

In 2003, Ted Cruz served as lead counsel for the state and successfully defended the multiple litigation challenges to the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan in state and federal district courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

2003: Texas Attorney General's office declines to defend Texas's sodomy law

In 2003, while Ted Cruz was Texas Solicitor General, the Texas Attorney General's office declined to defend Texas's sodomy law in Lawrence v. Texas, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state laws banning homosexual sex were unconstitutional.

2004: Involved in Pledge of Allegiance case

In 2004, Ted Cruz was involved in the high-profile case Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, surrounding a challenge to the constitutionality of public schools' requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. He wrote a brief on behalf of all 50 states, and the Supreme Court upheld the position of his brief.

2005: Audio recording release

In October 2005, after the audio recording of Trump was released and several Republicans retracted their endorsements, Cruz reaffirmed his support for Trump, calling Hillary Clinton "manifestly unfit to be president".

2008: Leaves position as Solicitor General

In 2008, Ted Cruz concluded his service as the Solicitor General of Texas. This marked the end of a chapter in his career.

2008: Joins Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

In 2008, after leaving his position as Solicitor General, Ted Cruz joined the Houston office of the Philadelphia-based law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where he often represented corporate clients.

2008: Medellín v. Texas Case

In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Texas has the right to ignore an order from the International Court of Justice directing the U.S. to review the convictions and sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row. Cruz frequently mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in Medellín v. Texas.

2010: Critic of Affordable Care Act

In 2010, Cruz was a vocal critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed under President Obama.

2010: Abandons bid for state attorney general

In 2010, Ted Cruz abandoned a bid for state attorney general when incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott decided to run for reelection.

January 19, 2011: Launches campaign for U.S. Senate

On January 19, 2011, Ted Cruz launched his campaign for U.S. Senate after Kay Bailey Hutchison announced she would not seek reelection. He ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in the Republican primary.

2012: Senate Campaign

During his 2012 Senate campaign, Cruz mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in Medellín v. Texas, a 2008 case, frequently. He has called Medellín the most important case of his tenure as Texas solicitor general.

2012: Tea Party candidate in Republican primary

In 2012, Ted Cruz ran as a Tea Party candidate in the Republican primary, securing a victory that The Washington Post called "the biggest upset of 2012".

2012: Elected to U.S. Senate

In 2012, Ted Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first Hispanic American to serve as a U.S. Senator from Texas. This election marked a significant milestone in his political career.

2012: Campaign Contributions

Since 2012, Cruz has received more than $2.5 million in campaign contributions from oil, gas, and coal interests.

March 14, 2013: Keynote Speech at CPAC

On March 14, 2013, Ted Cruz delivered the keynote speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.

October 2013: Values Voter Summit Straw Poll Win

In October 2013, Ted Cruz won the Values Voter Summit presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote, signaling early potential for a presidential run.

2013: Tax and Minimum Wage Stances

In 2013, Cruz proposed abolishing the IRS and implementing a flat tax system that would allow Americans to fill out taxes on a postcard. He is also adamantly opposed to a higher minimum wage.

2013: Syrian Civil War Stance

In 2013, Cruz stated that the U.S. had no "dog in the fight" during the Syrian Civil War and should not serve as "al-Qaeda's air force".

2013: Vote against Hurricane Sandy aid bill

In 2013, Cruz voted against a bill to provide federal aid for recovery from Hurricane Sandy, stating that it was filled with "unrelated pork".

2013: Vote Against Water Resources Development Act

In 2013, Cruz voted against the Water Resources Development Act, which would have authorized over $26 billion in projects by the Army Corps of Engineers. He stated that the bill neglected to reduce a backlog of projects and lacked adequate measures for state participation.

2013: Comments on same-sex marriage

In 2013, Ted Cruz expressed his desire for marriage to be legally defined as being "between one man and one woman", but also stated that the legality of same-sex marriage should be left for each state to decide.

2013: Federal government shutdown role

In 2013, Ted Cruz played a prominent role in the federal government shutdown. He aimed to pressure Congress and President Barack Obama to defund the Affordable Care Act.

2013: Speaking Events in Early Primary States

In mid-2013, Ted Cruz participated in speaking events across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, all early primary states, which fueled speculation about a potential 2016 presidential bid.

April 1, 2014: Cruz introduces bill to deny visas to UN ambassadors

On April 1, 2014, Ted Cruz introduced S. 2195, a bill that would allow the president of the United States to deny visas to any ambassador to the United Nations who has been found to have been engaged in espionage or terrorist activity against the United States or its allies.

April 12, 2014: Spoke at the Freedom Summit

On April 12, 2014, Ted Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by Americans for Prosperity and Citizens United, where he discussed Republican outreach to Latinos, young people, and single mothers. He also advocated for Republicans to emphasize "growth and opportunity".

April 18, 2014: Cruz thanks Obama for signing S. 2195 into law

On April 18, 2014, Ted Cruz thanked President Barack Obama for signing S. 2195 into law, in a letter published in Politico. He also thanked senators from both political parties for passing the legislation.

December 2014: Criticism of Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy

In December 2014, Cruz criticized the rapprochement between Cuba and the United States on Fox News, calling the thaw in relations a "manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy" and a "tragic mistake".

2014: Hard-line Stance on Immigration

During the 2014 border crisis, Cruz took a "hard-line stance" on immigration issues and opposes comprehensive immigration reform. He advocates an increase in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.

2014: Criticism of Obama Administration on ISIS

In 2014, Cruz criticized the Obama administration for missing the threat of ISIS and arming Syrian rebels allegedly fighting alongside ISIS. He called ISIS "the face of evil".

2014: Editorial on Auditing the Federal Reserve

In 2014, Cruz wrote an opinion editorial in USA Today stating that auditing the Federal Reserve System was a top Republican priority in 2015 and that he supported legislation allowing the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

2014: Won Presidential Straw Polls

In 2014, Ted Cruz finished first in two presidential straw polls: the Republican Leadership Conference with 30.33% of the vote, and the Republican Party of Texas state convention with 43% of the vote.

January 2015: State of the Union Response

In January 2015, Ted Cruz delivered one of the many State of the Union responses, providing his perspective on the President's address.

March 2015: Climate Change Views

In March 2015, Cruz rejected the scientific consensus on climate change, referring to some as "global warming alarmists." Citing satellite temperature measurements, he claimed there had been no significant warming in 18 years, contrary to NASA's analysis.

March 23, 2015: Announced 2016 Presidential Campaign

On March 23, 2015, Ted Cruz officially launched his 2016 presidential campaign for the Republican primaries and caucuses. The announcement was made during a morning speech delivered at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

June 30, 2015: Publication of "A Time for Truth"

On June 30, 2015, HarperCollins published Ted Cruz's book, "A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America". The book quickly became a bestseller.

A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America

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August 2015: Comments on police treatment

In August 2015, following the death of a Texas police officer, Cruz stated that police officers are "feeling the assault from the President" and other senior officials, citing Ferguson and Baltimore as examples. He said this was endangering safety and security.

2015: Support for Federal Aid Funding in Texas Flooding

In 2015, Cruz supported federal aid funding in the wake of severe flooding in Texas.

2015: Vote for USA Freedom Act

In 2015, Cruz voted for the USA Freedom Act, which reauthorized the USA Patriot Act with some reformed provisions.

2015: Opposition to Iran Nuclear Agreement

In 2015, Cruz was an adamant opponent of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear agreement), calling it "catastrophic" and "disastrous".

2015: Republican Priority

In 2015, according to an editorial in USA Today by Cruz, auditing the Federal Reserve System was a top Republican priority.

2015: Response to Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage

In 2015, after the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, Ted Cruz called the decision "the very definition of tyranny", accused the court of judicial activism, and described it as "among the darkest hours of our nation".

February 1, 2016: Won Iowa Caucuses

On February 1, 2016, Ted Cruz won the Iowa caucuses with 28% of the vote, becoming the first Hispanic to win either a presidential primary election or caucus.

February 2016: Illinois Board of Elections Ruled in Cruz's Favor

In February 2016, the Illinois Board of Elections ruled in Ted Cruz's favor regarding his eligibility to become U.S. president, stating that he was a natural-born citizen because he was born in Canada to a U.S. citizen mother.

March 1, 2016: Super Tuesday Victories

On March 1, 2016, also known as Super Tuesday, Ted Cruz won the Texas primary by 17%, along with Alaska and Oklahoma. This provided him with a total of four state primary victories.

March 8, 2016: Won Idaho Primary

On March 8, 2016, Ted Cruz won the Idaho primary with 45% of the vote, defeating Donald Trump by 17%. This marked his seventh statewide victory.

March 2016: Argument against considering Obama's Supreme Court nominee

In March 2016, Ted Cruz argued that the Senate should not consider President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, claiming that the decision should be left to the people in the upcoming presidential election.

April 6, 2016: Won Wisconsin Primary

On April 6, 2016, Ted Cruz won the Wisconsin primary with 48.2% of the vote, defeating Donald Trump who received 35.1%. This victory marked Cruz's tenth statewide win.

September 2016: Support for Weapons Sale to Saudi Arabia

In September 2016, Cruz backed the Obama administration's plan to sell over $1.15 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia.

September 23, 2016: Publicly Endorsed Trump for President

On September 23, 2016, Ted Cruz publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president after previously withholding his endorsement. This decision came after he had been critical of Trump's attacks on his family.

2016: Hard-right Immigration Stances

According to McClatchy, Cruz staked out "hard-right immigration stances" during his 2016 presidential campaign.

2016: Expected to run for presidency

As early as 2013, Ted Cruz was widely expected to run for the presidency in 2016.

2016: Denunciation of outsourcing during presidential campaign

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Ted Cruz strongly denounced the outsourcing of American jobs to other countries, claiming politicians who allowed it were betraying their constituents, and promised to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.

2016: Republican Presidential Candidate

In 2015, Ted Cruz started his 2016 presidential campaign for the Republican primaries and caucuses.

2016: Heidi Nelson's Leave from Goldman Sachs to support Cruz's campaign

In 2016, Heidi Nelson took leave from her position as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. to support Ted Cruz's run for president.

2016: Sought Republican presidential nomination

In 2016, Ted Cruz sought the Republican presidential nomination. He emerged as a serious competitor to Donald Trump in a primary marked by intense exchanges.

2016: Confirmed Speech at Republican National Convention

In 2016, after a meeting with Donald Trump, Ted Cruz confirmed that he would speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

2016: 2016 Republican Presidential Primaries

In the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Ted Cruz received over 7.8 million votes, won 12 states, and earned 559 delegates. He raised nearly $92 million, a record for a Republican primary candidate.

January 5, 2017: Vote on UN Security Council Resolution 2334

On January 5, 2017, Cruz voted in favor of a House resolution condemning UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in occupied Palestinian territories.

January 2017: Meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen

In early January 2017, Cruz met with Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen and criticized the People's Republic of China for asking members of Congress not to meet with her.

January 2017: Cruz praises Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch

In late January 2017, Ted Cruz praised Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch as "brilliant and immensely talented" in a written statement.

June 2017: Co-sponsorship of Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In June 2017, Cruz co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which would make it a federal crime for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

December 2017: Mocking of net neutrality supporters

In December 2017, after the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission repealed net neutrality, Ted Cruz mocked supporters of net neutrality as "snowflakes" who were misled by "online propaganda".

2017: Call for Federal Intervention during Hurricane Harvey

In 2017, Cruz called for federal intervention as Hurricane Harvey approached the coast of Texas.

2017: Letter Urging Withdrawal from Paris Agreement

In 2017, Cruz was one of 22 senators who signed a letter addressed to Trump, urging him to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

2017: Efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act

In 2017, during the first year of Trump's presidency, Cruz sponsored legislation to repeal the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, and was part of the group of 13 senators that drafted the unsuccessful 2017 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act replacement proposals of the AHCA.

2017: Endorsement of Roy Moore

In 2017, on the same day that an audio clip resurfaced of Alabama Judge Roy Moore calling Obergefell "worse" than the 1857 ruling that upheld slavery, Ted Cruz endorsed Moore for U.S. Senate.

February 2018: Opposition to DREAMers legislation debate

In February 2018, Ted Cruz was the sole senator to oppose a Republican motion to begin debate on legislation intended to resolve the question of what to do with DREAMers (undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children).

March 6, 2018: Cruz wins Republican nomination

On March 6, 2018, Ted Cruz easily won the Republican nomination for his reelection campaign with over 80% of the vote in the primary elections.

April 2018: Cruz writes about Trump for Time 100

In April 2018, Ted Cruz wrote about Donald Trump for the Time 100 most influential people of 2017, stating that "President Trump is doing what he was elected to do: disrupt the status quo."

July 2018: Rally for Religious Freedom in Asia

In July 2018, Cruz spoke at the Rally for Religious Freedom in Asia, expressing solidarity with those persecuted by communists and highlighting the heroism and courage of those who have experienced communism firsthand.

August 2018: Urging Sanctions Against Chinese Officials

In August 2018, Cruz and 16 other lawmakers urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.

November 6, 2018: Cruz defeats O'Rourke in Senate race

On November 6, 2018, Ted Cruz defeated Beto O'Rourke in the general election by a slim margin, 50.9% to 48.3%.

November 2018: Cruz sponsors 105 bills

As of November 2018, Ted Cruz has sponsored 105 bills of his own.

2018: Re-elected to the Senate

In 2018, Ted Cruz was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in a close race against Democratic nominee Beto O'Rourke, securing his position for another term.

December 2019: Warning to Allseas on Nord Stream II

In December 2019, Cruz and Senator Ron Johnson warned Allseas about sanctions if they did not suspend work on the Nord Stream II pipeline.

January 21, 2020: Launch of 'Verdict with Ted Cruz' podcast

On January 21, 2020, Ted Cruz and Michael J. Knowles launched the podcast 'Verdict with Ted Cruz', initially focusing on summaries of Donald Trump's impeachment hearings and later expanding to other topics and interviews.

July 13, 2020: Sanctioned by China

On July 13, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Cruz and three other U.S. politicians for "interfering in China's internal affairs" by condemning human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

August 10, 2020: Additional Sanctions by China

On August 10, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Cruz and 10 other Americans for "behaving badly on Hong Kong-related issues".

September 2020: Shortlisted for Supreme Court

In September 2020, Donald Trump included Ted Cruz on a shortlist for possible appointment to the Supreme Court, along with Senators Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley. Cruz ultimately declined consideration for the position.

September 2020: Support for immediate vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee

In September 2020, Ted Cruz supported an immediate vote on President Trump's nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy resulting from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, less than two months before the presidential election.

December 2020: Blocking the Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act

In December 2020, Ted Cruz blocked the Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act, which aimed to grant Hong Kongers refugee status, citing concerns about potential spying by China. He characterized the law as an attempt by Democrats to advance their immigration law reform agenda.

December 2020: Akademik Cherskiy Continues Pipeling

In December 2020, the Russian pipelaying ship Akademik Cherskiy continued pipelaying for Nord Stream II.

2020: 2020 presidential election

In 2020, the presidential election took place. Ted Cruz would object to the certification of the results in 2021.

May 2021: False assertions about the For The People Act

During a Senate Rules Committee hearing in May 2021, Ted Cruz falsely claimed that the House Democrats' For The People Act was designed to encourage people to break the law by registering ineligible non-citizens to vote and would automatically register anyone interacting with the government, regardless of immigration status. The bill clearly states that only U.S. citizens are permitted to register.

June 4, 2021: Completion of Nord Stream 2 first line pipelaying

On June 4, 2021, Putin announced that the pipelaying for first line of the Nord Stream 2 was fully completed.

September 2021: Completion of Nord Stream 2 second line pipelaying

In September 2021, the laying of the second line of Nord Stream 2 was completed.

October 2021: Criticism of Australia's Vaccine Mandates

In October 2021, Cruz posted a tweet criticizing Australia's Northern Territory's vaccine mandates, leading to a viral response from the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.

2021: Objected to certification of Joe Biden's victory

In 2021, Ted Cruz objected to the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, adding to the controversy surrounding the election results.

May 2022: Supreme Court sides with Cruz in FEC case

In May 2022, the Supreme Court sided with Ted Cruz in FEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate, allowing him to ask donors to help repay $555,000 he loaned to his campaigns, which included funds exceeding the existing limit of $250,000.

July 2022: Support for repeal of Texas anti-sodomy law

In July 2022, Ted Cruz issued a press release stating his support for repealing the 1845 Texas anti-sodomy law, arguing that consenting adults should have the freedom to engage in private sexual activity without government interference.

October 2022: Partnership with iHeartRadio and co-host change for 'Verdict with Ted Cruz'

In October 2022, 'Verdict with Ted Cruz' partnered with iHeartRadio, expanded to three episodes a week, and replaced Michael J. Knowles with Ben Ferguson as co-host.

2022: Criticism of China over Detention of Mark Swidan

In 2022, Cruz sharply criticized the Chinese government for its detention of Houston resident Mark Swidan.

2022: Vote against Inflation Reduction Act

In 2022, Cruz voted against the Inflation Reduction Act.

2022: Vote against measure to fund semiconductor manufacturers

In 2022, Ted Cruz voted against Bernie Sanders's proposed measure for the United States Innovation and Competition Act, which aimed to fund semiconductor manufacturers amid a shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. This measure would have also blocked funded manufacturers from outsourcing jobs and discouraging union formation.

March 2023: Vote against Repealing AUMF in Iraq

In March 2023, Cruz voted against repealing the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq.

2023: Vote against Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 2023, Cruz was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

2023: Cameo in 'Lady Ballers'

In 2023, Ted Cruz made a cameo appearance in The Daily Wire comedy film 'Lady Ballers'.

2024: Wins third term in Senate

In 2024, Ted Cruz decisively won a third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Congressman Colin Allred. This victory solidified his continued presence in the Senate.

January 2025: Introduction of the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)

In January 2025, Ted Cruz, along with Senators Chris Murphy, Katie Britt, and Brian Schatz, introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which would set a minimum age of 13 for social media use and prevent social media companies from using algorithms to target content to users under 17.