Texas Republican Senator Announces Candidacy for U.S. Presidency

Ted Cruz, the Texas senator and one of the most conservative members of the Republican Party, has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. presidency. According to the Associated Press, he made the announcement on his Twitter account on Monday, March 23. Cruz is the first prominent American figure to declare his candidacy for the presidential election next year. The 44-year-old Cruz, who entered the U.S. Senate in 2012, is a staunch critic of President Barack Obama's healthcare and immigration policies, despite the fact that his own father is a Cuban immigrant. Cruz is also supported by the ultra-conservative Tea Party movement and was one of the opponents of the 2013 budget that led to a 16-day shutdown of parts of the federal government. On the other hand, he has faced criticism from some senior Republican Party members, including former presidential candidate John McCain, who referred to him as 'unreasonable.' Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida (brother of George Bush, who also has a presidential history), is another prominent Republican figure who has stated he is considering announcing his own candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. In his promotional preview, he emphasized that 'a new generation of brave conservatives is going forth to restore pride in America.' Cruz's candidacy may receive support in the initial state-level elections due to his popularity among the right-wing and conservative Republican voters who constitute the majority, but his tense relationship with the Republican Party may hinder his progress. In the general election phase, moderate Republican rivals and independent candidates will make it difficult for him. Besides Jeb Bush, other prominent Republican figures such as Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, Rand Paul, the senator from Kentucky, and Marco Rubio, the senator from Florida, are also potential candidates for the presidency. None of these figures have widespread support, and only Jeb Bush has been in the spotlight in recent weeks. The report adds that whoever among the Republicans emerges victorious will likely compete against Hillary Clinton, a prominent Democratic figure expected to announce her candidacy soon. With an American mother and a Cuban father, Cruz would be the first U.S. president of Hispanic descent if elected. He is also opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion. His father is an evangelical pastor - a branch of very conservative Christianity. His name is also among the 47 senators who recently wrote to Iranian leaders stating that any nuclear agreement may be nullified in the future without congressional approval and support. He is also a staunch supporter of Israel.