Ted Cruz
RepublicanU.S. Senator
Ted Cruz serves as a U.S. Senator for Texas. This RepWatchr starter profile is source-seeded from current congressional roster data, official public links, and public congressional photo sources.
Overall Score
Red Flags (5)
Missed key water infrastructure vote
Was absent for a critical Senate vote on the Water Resources Development Act that included funding for East Texas water infrastructure projects and Sabine River Authority improvements.
Why It Matters
East Texas water infrastructure needs are urgent. Being absent for this vote meant the region lost a voice on a bill that directly affects local water quality and access.
Flew to Cancun during deadly 2021 Texas winter storm
In February 2021, while millions of Texans lost power and water during Winter Storm Uri - which killed over 200 people - Sen. Cruz flew to Cancun, Mexico for a family vacation. He returned early only after photos of him at the airport went viral, initially blaming the trip on his daughters before acknowledging it was a mistake.
Why It Matters
While Texans were freezing, losing loved ones, and dealing with burst pipes, their elected senator left the state for a beach resort. Leadership means being present during a crisis, especially when constituents need advocacy for emergency federal aid.
Voted against disaster relief for other states while seeking it for Texas
Sen. Cruz voted against the 2013 Hurricane Sandy relief package for the northeastern United States, calling the spending wasteful. However, after Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas in 2017, Cruz requested and supported billions in federal disaster relief for his own state. He argued the situations were different but critics noted the inconsistency.
Why It Matters
Voting against disaster relief for other states and then requesting it for your own raises questions about consistency and good faith governance. Texans benefit from the same federal disaster framework Cruz voted to deny others.
Majority of campaign funds come from out-of-state donors
FEC filings have consistently shown that a significant majority of Sen. Cruz's campaign contributions come from outside Texas. His national profile as a media figure and podcast host generates donations from across the country, raising questions about whether his priorities align with Texas voters or national donors.
Why It Matters
When the vast majority of an official's campaign money comes from outside the state, voters should ask whether the official is more responsive to those national donors or to the needs of Texans, particularly rural East Texans whose concerns differ from the national base.
Led 2013 government shutdown effort over Affordable Care Act
In October 2013, Sen. Cruz spearheaded the effort to defund the Affordable Care Act that led to a 16-day federal government shutdown. The shutdown furloughed approximately 800,000 federal workers and cost the economy an estimated $24 billion, according to Standard & Poor's. The ACA was not defunded.
Why It Matters
Government shutdowns disrupt services that East Texans rely on, including VA healthcare, Social Security processing, and federal employee paychecks at facilities like Red River Army Depot. The shutdown achieved none of its stated goals while causing real economic harm.
Vote-weighted left/right chart
Hard right voting record
Uses public vote records already loaded in the scorecard. Non-directional transparency and uncoded issue votes are not forced left or right.
Right 100
medium confidence
Master profile buildout
100% complete from the current public data files.
6/11 scorecard votes mapped to the left/right axis
Open vote-axis evidence (6)
Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2025
right +10Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Federal Land Regulatory Reform Act
right +8Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
State and Local Tax Fairness Act of 2025
right +10Voted nay. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Balanced Budget and Spending Control Act
right +8Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Secure the Border Act of 2025
right +10Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Energy Independence and Production Act
right +9Voted yea. Mapped from coded fiscal, property-rights, border, spending, regulatory, voucher, or energy policy direction.
Issue Scorecard
Voting Record
Small Business Tax Relief Act
January 15, 2026
Missed a vote on tax relief for small businesses, which are the backbone of the East Texas economy.
Balanced Budget and Spending Control Act
November 5, 2025
Supported spending controls and deficit reduction measures that protect future taxpayers.
Energy Independence and Production Act
October 20, 2025
Supported energy production legislation aligning with campaign commitment to Texas energy independence.
State and Local Tax Fairness Act of 2025
September 10, 2025
Correctly opposed legislation that would have shifted tax burdens to East Texas property owners.
Federal Land Regulatory Reform Act
August 15, 2025
Voted to reduce federal regulatory burden on private landowners, supporting East Texas ranchers and timber operators.
Rural Water System Resilience Act
July 22, 2025
Opposed funding for rural water system improvements that would have benefited East Texas communities still recovering from infrastructure strain.
Congressional Stock Trading Ban Act
June 28, 2025
Voted against banning stock trading by members of Congress, a significant transparency issue for constituents.
Water Resources Development Act of 2025
June 15, 2025
Voted against the Water Resources Development Act which included critical East Texas water infrastructure projects for the Sabine River Basin.
Senate Ethics and Disclosure Reform Act
April 10, 2025
Opposed enhanced financial disclosure requirements for senators, undermining public trust in government accountability.
Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2025
March 22, 2025
Supported strong federal protections against eminent domain abuse, consistent with property rights stance.
Secure the Border Act of 2025
February 5, 2025
Followed through on signature campaign promise of strong border security legislation.
Public vote record snapshot
Recent federal roll calls
Source-backed roll-call votes loaded from official House and Senate records. These are not automatically scored left or right until issue mapping is reviewed.
12
Votes loaded
5
Yea
6
Nay
0
Present
1
Not voting
senate roll 113 | 2026-04-30
Motion to Discharge: S J. Res. 184 from the Committee on Foreign Relations
On the Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 184 | Motion to Discharge Rejected (47-50)
senate roll 112 | 2026-04-30
Motion to Invoke Cloture: S. Res. 690
On the Cloture Motion S.Res. 690 | Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-46)
senate roll 111 | 2026-04-29
Motion to Proceed to S.J.Res. 99
On the Motion to Proceed S.J.Res. 99 | Motion to Proceed Rejected (47-50)
senate roll 110 | 2026-04-29
Motion to Proceed to S. J. Res. 139
On the Motion to Proceed S.J.Res. 139 | Motion to Proceed Rejected (46-52)
senate roll 109 | 2026-04-29
Confirmation: Robert Cekada, of F.L., to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
On the Nomination PN730-14 | Nomination Confirmed (59-39)
senate roll 108 | 2026-04-28
Is the Point of Order Well Taken Re: The Privilege Status of S.J.Res. 124?
On the Point of Order S.J.Res. 124 | Point of Order Well Taken (51-47)
senate roll 107 | 2026-04-28
Motion to Proceed to Executive Session to Consider S. Res. 690
On the Motion to Proceed S.Res. 690 | Motion to Proceed Agreed to (52-47)
senate roll 106 | 2026-04-27
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Robert Cekada to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
On the Cloture Motion PN730-14 | Cloture Motion Agreed to (54-37)
Public statements
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Log In to VoteCampaign Funding
Total Raised
$42,560,000
Total Spent
$39,870,000
Cash on Hand
$3,215,000
Donor Breakdown
Geographic Breakdown
0.0%
45.0%
55.0%
Top Donors
| Name | Type | Amount | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Conservatives Fund | PAC | $250,000 | Washington, DC |
| Club for Growth | PAC | $200,000 | Washington, DC |
| Texas Oil & Gas Association PAC | PAC | $150,000 | Austin, TX |
| National Republican Senatorial Committee | PAC | $125,000 | Washington, DC |
| National Rifle Association PAC | PAC | $100,000 | Fairfax, VA |
| Goldman Sachs Group | Corporation | $85,000 | New York, NY |
| Koch Industries | Corporation | $75,000 | Wichita, KS |
| Hillcrest Capital Management | Corporation | $65,000 | Dallas, TX |
Public Sources
Last verified: 2026-04-29
In the News
Cruz and Cornyn Push Competing FEMA Reform Bills After East Texas Tornado Response Failures
Following widespread criticism of FEMA's slow response to the February 2026 East Texas tornadoes, both Texas senators have filed reform bills with sharply different approaches.
Apr 14, 2026Operation Lone Star Costs Top $11 Billion as East Texas Reps Push for More Federal Reimbursement
Texas has now spent over $11 billion on its border security operation. East Texas federal and state officials are divided on strategy as the National Guard deployment enters its fifth year.
Apr 7, 2026Public Discussion
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