Cruz Breaks “Unwritten Rule” with High-Stakes Primary Interventions in Texas and Beyond
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz is actively dismantling a long-standing political norm by intervening heavily in ultra-competitive Republican primary elections, a strategy he admits is widely considered “politically stupid” by his colleagues. By endorsing specific candidates in crowded fields—including the race for Texas’ 38th Congressional District—Cruz is wagering his political capital on the belief that ideological alignment outweighs the risk of alienating future colleagues.
The “Politically Stupid” Gamble
In American politics, sitting senators typically maintain strict neutrality during primary elections within their home states. The rationale, often described as an “unwritten rule,” is pragmatic: endorsing a losing candidate creates immediate friction with the winner, who becomes a necessary working partner or constituent.
“The reason my colleagues stay out of primaries in their own state is it’s politically stupid to get in the middle of it,” Cruz stated in a recent interview. “There’s an old rule of thumb that when you make an endorsement in a primary, you get half their friends and all their enemies.”
Despite acknowledging this conventional wisdom, Cruz has launched a series of high-profile endorsements. Most recently, he appeared in a television advertisement supporting mortgage banker Jon Bonck, who is running against 10 other Republicans for the Houston-based seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Ideology Over Safety: The School Choice Litmus Test
Cruz’s interventionist strategy is not random but data-driven and ideologically specific. His political team reportedly maintains a detailed spreadsheet tracking every Texas state representative and senator’s voting record on school choice.
According to Cruz, this specific issue drives many of his state-level interventions. If an incumbent Republican voted against school choice programs and faces a viable primary challenger, Cruz has committed to throwing his support behind the challenger. “When I support a candidate, I don’t do so gently,” Cruz noted, emphasizing that his endorsements come with active campaigning and resource allocation rather than just nominal support.
Risks and Counterarguments
Political strategists warn that this approach carries significant downsides. By picking sides in “ultra-competitive” races, Cruz risks isolating factions of his own party base. Furthermore, his track record in these gambles is mixed, highlighting the inherent danger of betting against the field.
- Past Losses: In the 2022 Ohio Senate primary, Cruz backed Josh Mandel, who ultimately lost to JD Vance. Vance went on to become a U.S. Senator and subsequently the Vice President.
- Awkward Alliances: In 2020, Cruz supported surgeon Manny Sethi in the Tennessee Senate primary over Bill Hagerty. Hagerty won the race and is now Cruz’s colleague in the Senate, illustrating the exact tension the “unwritten rule” seeks to avoid.
Critics argue that such maneuvering can fracture state parties and create unnecessary enemies in Washington. However, supporters view it as a necessary evolution for the party, ensuring that elected Republicans strictly adhere to conservative platform goals like school choice.
A Persistent Strategy
Despite the potential for backlash, Cruz shows no signs of retreating to the safety of neutrality. Beyond Texas, he has weighed in on the Florida gubernatorial race to replace Ron DeSantis and other key contests. His willingness to “roll the dice” suggests a calculation that the power of steering the party’s ideological direction is worth the occasional political bruise.
