Texas Senator Ted Cruz is distancing himself from President Trump as he prepares for a potential 2028 presidential run. Cruz has endorsed Rick Jackson for Georgia governor and Alan Wilson for South Carolina governor, both of whom are competing against candidates endorsed by Trump. Cruz's endorsements may indicate a test of whether there is space within the Republican Party for a candidate willing to oppose Trump, who has had significant influence over the party for the past decade.
Cruz's support for Jackson, a health care executive, comes as he faces Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a runoff scheduled for June 16. In South Carolina, Wilson, the state attorney general, is up against Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a runoff on June 23. Cruz is currently the only potential 2028 GOP candidate to publicly oppose Trump in these races, highlighting the hesitance of other Republicans to challenge the former president.
Cruz's endorsements carry political risks; should Jones and Evette win, Cruz may face backlash from Trump, complicating his own presidential aspirations. Cruz has also expressed concerns about Trump's tariffs potentially harming the economy and has criticized Vice President Vance, another potential 2028 candidate, for his foreign policy stance.
In preparation for a 2028 campaign, Cruz has been engaging with donors, giving speeches, and hosting a podcast and radio show to connect with potential supporters. His endorsements may help him build alliances in key early primary states. By opposing Trump in these primaries, Cruz is challenging Trump's reputation as a significant influence within the Republican Party, as Trump has historically viewed primary endorsements as a measure of his power. So far in this election cycle, Trump-backed candidates have won nearly all federal or statewide primaries, with only one exception.