Sen. Ted Cruz’s ambition to move into the White House is still on his mind, he confirmed during an appearance on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast Wednesday.
The Texas Republican junior senator said, “It’s no secret that I want to be president,” reigniting chatter that the second-place 2016 Republican presidential primary candidate may toss his hat back into the ring.
When pressed by Mr. Patrick over whether he would launch another bid for president, Mr. Cruz said, “Time will tell.”
The Republican National Convention will be in Houston, Mr. Cruz’s hometown, in 2028.
“I can’t imagine you not being on that stage,” Mr. Patrick told Mr. Cruz.
“I will say, this is a bug that history has proved is rarely ended,” Mr. Cruz said of running for president. “It is a permanent and often fatal bug.”
Mr. Cruz launched his 2016 presidential campaign in March 2015, and suspended it just over a year later after finishing second in delegates to Donald Trump, endorsing him that September.
The senator won multiple state primary contests, including crucial wins in Iowa and his home state of Texas.
Mr. Patrick listed prospective 2028 presidential candidates, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
If Mr. Cruz does launch a bid for president, it would set up a Cruz-vs.-Vance dynamic for 2028, since Mr. Vance is widely seen as President Trump’s heir apparent.
“I think Greg Abbott wants to run,” Mr. Patrick said of the governor, who’s campaigning for a record fourth term.
When asked if Mr. Abbott was interested in running for president in 2028, his gubernatorial campaign press secretary, Eduardo Leal, said, “No.”
Mr. Trump responded warmly to questions about a potential 2028 presidential run by Mr. Cruz, telling reporters in the Oval Office, “I would say that he’s very talented. He’s a very good friend of mine. I think he might do that, yeah. He’s a talented guy.”
His response marks a significant shift from the bitter rivalry between the two during the 2016 Republican primary, when Mr. Trump famously referred to him as “Lyin’ Ted.”
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