Texas Senator Says Colleague Wants to Run for President in 2028

Senator John Cornyn said Senator Ted Cruz wants to be the next president. Cornyn made the comment during an interview with Semafor while discussing early positioning among potential 2028 Republican candidates. Cornyn said he did not want to "jinx" either Vice President JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio by endorsing them.

He added that Cruz has not received a similar endorsement from him. "Don't tell Ted Cruz that, because Ted wants to be the next president," Cornyn said. Cornyn also addressed Cruz's decision not to endorse Cornyn's primary reelection effort.

"Ted's entitled to make his own choices. I'm not bitter," Cornyn said. "People in politics are very competitive. " Cornyn lost his Republican primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton will face Democratic candidate James Talarico in the November general election.

"I don't know how Paxton raises the money he's going to need to run against Talarico — who’s got unlimited resources — in the next four and a half months," Cornyn said. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received 5.4 percent and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley received 4.6 percent, with 15 percent undecided.

A Public Sentiment Institute poll taken May 21 among 893 likely voters showed former Vice President Kamala Harris leading Vice President JD Vance 47 percent to 38.9 percent. Harris also led Secretary of State Marco Rubio 46.9 percent to 38.9 percent and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg led Vance 45.7 percent to 39.8 percent.

Senator Ted Cruz received zero percent support.