Ted Cruz is one of the most recognizable Republican senators in the country, and his name keeps trending because of ongoing talk about a possible 2028 presidential run. This guide breaks down his real background, family life, and career in plain language. You’ll also get a dated, fact-checked update on what he’s actually been saying and doing right now.
Background: Who Is Ted Cruz and Why Is He Trending?
Ted Cruz is the junior United States Senator from Texas, a position he’s held since 2013. Before politics, he built a legal career that included clerking for the U.S. Supreme Court and serving as Texas Solicitor General, where he argued cases in front of the nation’s highest court. He ran for president in 2016, losing the Republican nomination to Donald Trump, and he won reelection to a third Senate term in November 2024, defeating Democratic challenger Colin Allred.
People are searching his name again in 2026 for a specific reason: Cruz has been openly talking about running for president in 2028. He’s said in podcast interviews that it’s “no secret” he wants the job, and he’s been a visible presence at conservative events like CPAC, where he’s been floated as a potential candidate.
Quick context: Cruz isn’t a declared 2028 candidate. He’s discussed the idea publicly, but no formal campaign has been announced. Treat any headline that states he “is running” as premature unless it cites an actual campaign filing or announcement.
Latest Update
Cruz remains a sitting U.S. Senator representing Texas, serving his third term after winning reelection in 2024. Through 2026, he’s been active on several fronts: he chairs the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where he’s held hearings on issues like Transportation Security Administration leadership; he’s questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio on foreign policy, including the war in Iran; and he’s continued speaking at conservative gatherings such as CPAC.
On the 2028 question, Cruz has told podcast audiences in mid-2026 that his presidential ambitions are well known, without formally declaring a candidacy. Reporting also notes he’s drawn criticism at points in 2026 for travel timing during severe weather events back home, and he’s remained a vocal figure in debates over Iran policy and border security.
What’s unconfirmed: No credible report as of this date confirms a formal 2028 campaign launch, a running mate, or a fixed campaign timeline. Any specific claim along those lines should be treated as speculation until an official announcement is made.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Ted Cruz was born Rafael Edward Cruz on December 22, 1970, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His father, Rafael Cruz, had emigrated from Cuba, and his mother, Eleanor Darragh, was American. The family moved to Houston, Texas, when Cruz was young, and he grew up there before later renouncing his Canadian citizenship in 2014, since he had held dual citizenship by birth.
Career Path
Cruz graduated from Princeton University in 1992 and Harvard Law School in 1995. He clerked for a federal appeals court judge and then for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, becoming the first Hispanic person to clerk for a Chief Justice. He later worked on George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign, served at the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department, and in 2003 became the youngest Texas Attorney General in the state’s history, serving as Solicitor General. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, took office in 2013, ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, and won reelection to the Senate in 2018 and again in 2024.
Age
Cruz was born December 22, 1970, making him 55 years old as of September 2026.
Religion
Cruz identifies as a Southern Baptist and has spoken publicly and frequently about his Christian faith, including at churches and conservative Christian conferences. This is well documented across his own public statements and campaign materials.
Spouse/Partner
Cruz is married to Heidi Nelson Cruz, whom he met while working on the 2000 Bush campaign. Sources differ slightly on the exact wedding year, with most citing 2001; that specific date is treated here as generally but not universally confirmed. Heidi Cruz has an extensive finance background, including a longtime career at Goldman Sachs.
Net Worth
Estimates of Cruz’s net worth vary widely depending on the source, ranging from roughly $1 million to $5 million based on financial disclosure-style reporting, with his Senate salary (publicly set at around $174,000 a year) as a documented base income. A few low-quality sources cite figures as high as $250 million; that number is not supported by mainstream reporting and should be treated as unconfirmed.
Parents
His father is Rafael Cruz, a Cuban immigrant and pastor, and his mother is Eleanor Elizabeth Darragh, who was born in Delaware. Both have spoken publicly in support of his political career.
Height
Cruz’s height is commonly listed online as approximately 5 feet 10 inches, but this figure comes from entertainment-style biography sites rather than an official or verified primary source, so it should be treated as approximate.
Education
Cruz attended Second Baptist School in Houston, then earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy from Princeton University in 1992 and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1995.
Hometown/State of Origin
Cruz was born in Calgary, Canada, but grew up in Houston, Texas, which is the state he has represented in the U.S. Senate since 2013.
Official Social Media
Cruz’s verified official Senate account is on X (formerly Twitter): @SenTedCruz.
Quick Facts Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rafael Edward Cruz |
| Date of birth | December 22, 1970 |
| Age (as of Sept. 2026) | 55 |
| Birthplace | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Hometown | Houston, Texas |
| Education | Princeton University (B.A.); Harvard Law School (J.D.) |
| Occupation | U.S. Senator (Texas), attorney |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Heidi Nelson Cruz |
| Children | Two daughters: Caroline and Catherine |
| Religion | Southern Baptist / Christian |
| Net worth | Roughly $1M–$5M (widely varying estimates) |
| Current role | U.S. Senator, third term (since 2013) |
| 2026 trending topic | Public comments about a potential 2028 presidential run (unconfirmed as a formal campaign) |
Reader Questions (FAQ)
How old is Ted Cruz?
Ted Cruz was born on December 22, 1970, which makes him 55 years old as of September 2026. His birthday falls near the end of December each year.
Is Ted Cruz running for president in 2028?
Cruz has publicly said it’s “no secret” he wants to be president, and he’s been discussed as a potential 2028 contender at events like CPAC. However, as of this update, no formal campaign has been declared, so it remains speculation rather than a confirmed run.
Who is Ted Cruz’s wife?
His wife is Heidi Nelson Cruz, whom he met during the 2000 Bush presidential campaign. She has a background in investment banking, including a long career at Goldman Sachs, and the couple has two daughters together.
What state does Ted Cruz represent?
Cruz represents Texas in the U.S. Senate. He was first elected in 2012, took office in 2013, and won his third term in the November 2024 election.
What is Ted Cruz’s net worth?
Most financial-disclosure-based estimates put his net worth somewhere between $1 million and $5 million. Higher figures circulating online, such as $250 million, are not backed by credible sources and should not be treated as accurate.
Where was Ted Cruz born?
Cruz was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to a Cuban immigrant father and an American mother. His family moved to Houston, Texas, while he was young, and he renounced his Canadian citizenship in 2014.
Did Ted Cruz run for president before?
Yes. Cruz ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and finished as one of the last major candidates standing before losing to Donald Trump. He has not run for president since, though 2028 speculation has picked up.
Wrap-Up
Ted Cruz’s story is built on a fairly steady climb: a debate-champion student who became a Supreme Court clerk, then Texas’s top courtroom lawyer, then a U.S. Senator who’s now served Texas for over a decade. His 2016 presidential run and his current Senate committee work are both well documented, and neither is in dispute.
What is less settled, as of September 2026, is what comes next. Cruz has made his interest in a future presidential run public, but interest and an actual campaign are two different things, and only one of those is currently confirmed. Readers searching his name for “2028” news should expect that story to keep developing rather than treat any current headline as the final word.
For now, the reliable facts are these: he’s a sitting senator, a husband and father of two, a Princeton and Harvard-trained lawyer, and a frequent voice in national political debates. Everything beyond that, particularly around 2028, is still being written.
Thomas Andrew is the founder of Odubio.com, a digital platform sharing inspiring biographies, news, and stories about global icons and achievers.