Exclusive: GRAPEVINE, Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) sidestepped questions about a potential 2028 bid, but instead tied any future decision to Republicans’ ability to hold power and deliver results ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which he warned would determine whether the GOP’s agenda continues or grinds to a halt.
Asked in an interview with the Washington Examiner what factors would determine whether he runs for president, Cruz declined to engage directly, pointing instead to Republicans’ governing record and the stakes of the next election cycle.
“My focus right now is on … continuing to deliver major victories,” Cruz said, citing “jobs, freedom, [and] security.” He added that “the stakes are massive” in the midterm elections, warning that Democratic control of Congress would bring “constant impeachment trials” and grind legislation “to a halt.”
The comments come as Cruz’s name has quietly circulated in early 2028 conversations, particularly among conservative activists and media figures, even as he has not taken visible steps toward launching a campaign.
At this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Cruz leaned heavily into a message of governing success under President Donald Trump, framing the current moment as a high point for conservative policy wins while cautioning that those gains could quickly unravel.
“In the last 15 months, we have won historic victories across the nation,” Cruz told the CPAC crowd, pointing to tax cuts, border security investments, and military spending as evidence of what he called a resurgent conservative movement.
He repeatedly avoided engaging in 2028 speculation, redirecting attention to Republicans’ governing record and the stakes of the midterm elections.
As chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Cruz also pointed to regulatory oversight fights in Washington, criticizing the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of the Nexstar-Tegna merger at the bureau level rather than through a full commission vote.
“If it can be done without accountability from the presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed commissioners, that’s a real problem,” Cruz said.
The scrutiny comes as a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the $6.2 billion merger, siding with DirecTV in a lawsuit alleging the deal could drive up costs for distributors, reduce competition, and lead to layoffs.
At the same time, Cruz pushed back on signs of a growing divide within the Republican Party over U.S. involvement in Iran, particularly among younger voters and populist-aligned conservatives.
“I think that divide is vastly overstated,” Cruz said. “If you look at the polling … anywhere between 85% and 90% of Republicans support what the president is doing.”
He dismissed criticism from figures like Tucker Carlson as coming from “a handful of loud voices,” adding that Carlson’s foreign policy views are “indistinguishable from Ilhan Omar’s.”
The comments reflect an effort by Cruz to minimize internal GOP fractures at a moment when foreign policy, particularly Iran, has exposed real tensions between the party’s traditional hawks and a rising noninterventionist wing. That message was underscored when asked who would bear responsibility if Republicans lose either chamber in 2026.
“Look, the best answer to that is, don’t let it happen, because I’ll tell you who pays the price, and the American people pay the price,” Cruz said. “If the Democrats take either chamber, the incredible progress we’ve seen for the last 15 months grinds to a halt, no meaningful legislation will pass.”
He went on to argue Democrats have “decided they are the party of open borders,” pointing to disputes over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and warning that “the stakes in November are so high.”
Speaking to CPAC attendees, Cruz sharpened that warning, arguing Democrats would seek to “impeach the president,” “open the border,” and “tear this country down” if they regained power, while urging conservatives to mobilize ahead of November.
The Texas Republican also framed the GOP as increasingly aligned with working-class voters, calling it “the party of truck drivers and steel workers and cops and firefighters,” while casting Democrats as “rich coastal elites.”
CPAC FACES RELEVANCY ISSUE WITH YOUTH ACTIVISTS OVER IRAN WAR
For now, Cruz is making clear that any future ambitions will hinge less on campaign groundwork and more on whether Republicans can hold power and deliver.
“We’ve got a fight on our hands,” he said. “We need to make sure … Americans show up.”