Ted Cruz Biography.com . 
Ted Cruz
"This is n't just a team sport ," Cruz defended his position . 
On September 23 , 2016 , Cruz finally endorsed his former rival just days before Trump 's first presidential debate with his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton . 
Working as an attorney for some time , Cruz later served as an adviser on the 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush . 
In his long explanation supporting his endorsement , Cruz wrote : "Our country is in crisis . 
Born on December 22 , 1970 , in Calgary , Canada , conservative politician Ted Cruz first rose to national prominence in 2012 with his surprising win of a U.S. Senate seat . 
Trump responded in a statement to CNN :" I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz ," he said . 
Cruz 's parents split up for a time , but they reunited after Rafael developed a newfound interest in religion . 
Cruz demonstrated his gift for public speaking at early age . 
Cruz joined the group , and he and his fellow Constitutional Corroborators gave speeches around Texas on related issues . 
The valedictorian of his class at Houston 's Second Baptist High School , Cruz went on to Princeton University . 
Born on December 22 , 1970 , American conservative politician Ted Cruz grew up in Houston , Texas , earning his bachelor 's at Princeton University and going on to Harvard Law School . 
After graduating from Princeton in 1992 , Cruz continued his education at Harvard Law School . 
After law school , Cruz worked as a law clerk for several judges , including Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist from 1996 to 1997 . 
In a Facebook post , Cruz wrote : "After many months of careful consideration , of prayer and searching my own conscience , I have decided that on Election Day , I will vote for the Republican nominee , Donald Trump ." 
Cruz worked as a lawyer for a few years before jumping into politics , eventually serving as a policy adviser to George W. Bush 's 2000 presidential campaign . 
Cruz explained to The New Yorker , "I essentially had responsibility for all the policy that touched on law" during the campaign . 
After a stint as associate deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice , Cruz became director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission in July 2001 . 
In 2003 , Cruz became the solicitor general of Texas . 
Cruz then returned to private practice briefly before launching his own campaign for the Senate . 
Cruz came in second to Dewhurst in the first round of voting , but he won in the run-off election . 
After taking office in 2013 , Cruz made a name for himself with his speeches and tactics . 
Holding the Senate floor , Cruz tried to convince his colleagues to cut funding for the program . 
Cruz 's actions have drawn the ire of some of the more seasoned "establishment" Republicans . 
According to The Huffington Post , Senator John McCain said that Cruz , along with fellow ultraconservatives Rand Paul and Representative Justin Amash , were "wacko birds" who got the most media attention . 
Ted Cruz . 
Ted Cruz official portrait -LRB- via WikiCommons -RRB- . 
In 2014 , Cruz renounced his dual Canadian citizenship , though his eligibility to run for president was not in jeopardy . 
In March 2015 , Cruz officially announced his candidacy for president over Twitter . 
On social issues , Cruz is pro-life and has stated his belief in "marriage between a man and a woman ." 
As the son of a Cuban immigrant , Cruz says he "celebrates legal immigration ," according to his official website . 
In 2014 , Cruz proposed legislation to prevent President Obama from expanding amnesty , and he is a vocal critic of the Obama administration 's immigration policies . 
Cruz is also in favor of abolishing the IRS and instituting a flat tax system . 
In February 2016 , Cruz scored an important victory in his pursuit of the presidency . 
Trump and Marco Rubio were close behind Cruz in the final results , however , with Trump at 24.4 percent and Rubio at 23.1 percent , according to the Wall Street Journal . 
In March , after Rubio lost his home state of Florida to Trump , he dropped out , making it a three-way race between Trump , Cruz and Ohio governor John Kasich . 
In April 2016 , Cruz announced Carly Fiorina as his vice presidential running mate . 
Fiorina , the former Hewlitt-Packard CEO , had dropped out of the presidential race in February and endorsed Cruz in March . 
After losing the Indiana primary to Trump in May 2016 , Cruz suspended his campaign . 
"From the beginning , I have said that I will continue on as long as there is a viable path to victory ," Cruz told his supporters . 
On July 20 , 2016 , Cruz delivered a controversial speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland , Ohio , a day after his former opponent Donald Trump officially won the party 's presidential nomination . 
Addressing the convention in primetime , Cruz congratulated Trump , but did not endorse him , drawing boos from the audience of delegates and chants of "Vote for Trump !" 
"If you love our country , and love our children as much as you do , stand , and speak , and vote your conscience , vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom , and to be faithful to the constitution ," Cruz said , eliciting jeers and chants of "Endorse Trump ! 
Near the end of Cruz 's speech , Trump arrived in the arena and television cameras cut away to show the presidential nominee . 
Trump reacted to Cruz 's controversial speech on Twitter , criticizing Cruz for not honoring his pledge to support the party 's nominee . 
"Wow , Ted Cruz got booed off the stage , did n't honor the pledge ! 
The next day Cruz addressed delegates from his home state of Texas , many of whom were angry about his unwillingness to back Trump .
"This is n't just a team sport ," [TGT] defended his position . 
On September 23 , 2016 , [TGT] finally endorsed his former rival just days before Trump 's first presidential debate with his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton . 
Working as an attorney for some time , [TGT] later served as an adviser on the 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush . 
In his long explanation supporting his endorsement , [TGT] wrote : "Our country is in crisis . 
Born on December 22 , 1970 , in Calgary , Canada , [TGT] first rose to national prominence in 2012 with [TGT] surprising win of a U.S. Senate seat . 
Trump responded in a statement to CNN :" I am greatly honored by the endorsement of [TGT] ," he said . 
[TGT] 's parents split up for a time , but they reunited after Rafael developed a newfound interest in religion . 
[TGT] demonstrated [TGT] gift for public speaking at early age . 
[TGT] joined the group , and [TGT] and [TGT] fellow Constitutional Corroborators gave speeches around Texas on related issues . 
The valedictorian of [TGT] class at Houston 's Second Baptist High School , [TGT] went on to Princeton University . 
Born on December 22 , 1970 , [TGT] grew up in Houston , Texas , earning [TGT] bachelor 's at Princeton University and going on to Harvard Law School . 
After graduating from Princeton in 1992 , [TGT] continued [TGT] education at Harvard Law School . 
After law school , [TGT] worked as a law clerk for several judges , including Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist from 1996 to 1997 . 
In a Facebook post , [TGT] wrote : "After many months of careful consideration , of prayer and searching my own conscience , I have decided that on Election Day , I will vote for the Republican nominee , Donald Trump ." 
[TGT] worked as a lawyer for a few years before jumping into politics , eventually serving as a policy adviser to George W. Bush 's 2000 presidential campaign . 
[TGT] explained to The New Yorker , "I essentially had responsibility for all the policy that touched on law" during the campaign . 
After a stint as associate deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice , [TGT] became director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission in July 2001 . 
In 2003 , [TGT] became the solicitor general of Texas . 
[TGT] then returned to private practice briefly before launching his own campaign for the Senate . 
[TGT] came in second to Dewhurst in the first round of voting , but he won in the run-off election . 
After taking office in 2013 , [TGT] made a name for himself with his speeches and tactics . 
Holding the Senate floor , [TGT] tried to convince his colleagues to cut funding for the program . 
[TGT] 's actions have drawn the ire of some of the more seasoned "establishment" Republicans . 
According to The Huffington Post , Senator John McCain said that [TGT] , along with fellow ultraconservatives Rand Paul and Representative Justin Amash , were "wacko birds" who got the most media attention . 
[TGT] . 
[TGT] official portrait -LRB- via WikiCommons -RRB- . 
In 2014 , [TGT] renounced his dual Canadian citizenship , though his eligibility to run for president was not in jeopardy . 
In March 2015 , [TGT] officially announced his candidacy for president over Twitter . 
On social issues , [TGT] is pro-life and has stated [TGT] belief in "marriage between a man and a woman ." 
As the son of a Cuban immigrant , [TGT] says [TGT] "celebrates legal immigration ," according to [TGT] official website . 
In 2014 , [TGT] proposed legislation to prevent President Obama from expanding amnesty , and [TGT] is a vocal critic of the Obama administration 's immigration policies . 
[TGT] is also in favor of abolishing the IRS and instituting a flat tax system . 
In February 2016 , [TGT] scored an important victory in [TGT] pursuit of the presidency . 
Trump and Marco Rubio were close behind [TGT] in the final results , however , with Trump at 24.4 percent and Rubio at 23.1 percent , according to the Wall Street Journal . 
In March , after Rubio lost his home state of Florida to Trump , he dropped out , making it a three-way race between Trump , [TGT] and Ohio governor John Kasich . 
In April 2016 , [TGT] announced Carly Fiorina as his vice presidential running mate . 
Fiorina , the former Hewlitt-Packard CEO , had dropped out of the presidential race in February and endorsed [TGT] in March . 
After losing the Indiana primary to Trump in May 2016 , [TGT] suspended his campaign . 
"From the beginning , I have said that I will continue on as long as there is a viable path to victory ,[TGT] told [TGT] supporters . 
On July 20 , 2016 , [TGT] delivered a controversial speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland , Ohio , a day after his former opponent Donald Trump officially won the party 's presidential nomination . 
Addressing the convention in primetime , [TGT] congratulated Trump , but did not endorse him , drawing boos from the audience of delegates and chants of "Vote for Trump !" 
"If you love our country , and love our children as much as you do , stand , and speak , and vote your conscience , vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom , and to be faithful to the constitution ," [TGT] said , eliciting jeers and chants of "Endorse Trump ! 
Near the end of [TGT] 's speech , Trump arrived in the arena and television cameras cut away to show the presidential nominee . 
Trump reacted to [TGT] 's controversial speech on Twitter , criticizing [TGT] for not honoring his pledge to support the party 's nominee . 
"Wow , [TGT] got booed off the stage , did n't honor the pledge ! 
The next day [TGT] addressed delegates from [TGT] home state of Texas , many of whom were angry about [TGT] unwillingness to back Trump .