Ted Cruz news
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The gist
Ted Cruz spoke at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas on Sept. 10, 2026.
The speech and his 2028 moves put him at the center of the party's.
Background
The Republican National Committee held its first-ever midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, with President Donald Trump headlining and GOP candidates rallying two months before the Nov. 3 elections. Cruz used his Sept. 10 speech to praise Trump, criticize Democratic policies and figures, and argue that Sharia law is incompatible with the U.S. Constitution. He has also been making moves that typically signal a presidential run, including a trip to Iowa, and has publicly turned down a Supreme Court seat three times.
How it unfolded
- Sep 8, 2026Cruz spoke with ABC News' Linsey Davis about his new biography of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, the GOP midterm convention and the trade war with Canada.
- Sep 9, 2026Cruz said he does not want to be a judge and has told Trump no to a Supreme Court spot, saying he wants to stay in political and policy fights.
- Sep 10, 2026Cruz delivered a full speech on the second day of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, reflecting on the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk's death and the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
- Sep 10, 2026During the speech, shouts of 'he should be shot' were audible multiple times after Cruz named Democratic politicians Zohran Mamdani, Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico.
Who’s saying what
- Party
- Cruz praised President Trump, criticized Democratic policies and figures, and said 'Sharia Law has no place in America.'
- Analysts
- The Dallas News framed the convention as JD Vance and Ted Cruz previewing the GOP's post-Trump future, with Cruz making his own pitch.
- Caution
- Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder said 'The ramblings of an old man in a half-empty auditorium changed the minds of zero people' and 'Accountability is on the way.'
Still unverified
The shouts of 'he should be shot' were audible on the broadcast but it is not confirmed who shouted them or how many people were involved. Cruz's intentions regarding a 2028 presidential run are described as moves that 'typically signal' a run, not a formal announcement.