Ted grew up in Texas. His father, Rafael, fled Cuba after being tortured and imprisoned and came to Texas with just $100 sewn into his underwear. Rafael got a job washing dishes making 50 cents an hour and learned English. He worked hard and attended the University of Texas at Austin, earning a degree in mathematics. He later started a small business in the oil and gas industry. Today, Rafael is a pastor in Dallas.
The goal of United States foreign policy and military policy is to protect the national security of America and Americans. As a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a current member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Cruz has worked throughout his career to counter the geopolitical threats posed by Russia and China, boost our Israeli allies, counter our enemies in the Iranian regime, advance human rights globally and especially in the Western Hemisphere, ensure that Texas’ military bases and communities receive the resources they need, and ensure the safety, security, and freedoms of Americans are protected at home and abroad.