Cruz Tests Trump's Kingmaker Status with Bold 2028 Moves
Senator Ted Cruz is publicly breaking with President Donald Trump on key endorsements in southern gubernatorial races, making him the only potential 2028 Republican contender willing to cross the president in ongoing primaries. The Texas Republican's moves test whether there is still room in the GOP for a presidential challenger willing to defy a leader who has maintained a firm grip on the party for a decade.
Which Candidates is Cruz Backing Against Trump?
This week, Cruz announced he is backing Rick Jackson for Georgia governor and Alan Wilson in South Carolina's race for governor. Both candidates are facing Trump-endorsed opponents in upcoming runoffs.
- Georgia: Cruz is supporting Rick Jackson, a wealthy health care executive, who faces Trump-backed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in a June 16 runoff.
- South Carolina: Cruz is backing Alan Wilson, the state's attorney general, who is up against Trump-endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a June 23 runoff.
Cruz appears to be the only potential 2028 GOP contender to publicly side against Trump in either race. This underscores how reluctant other ambitious Republicans are to challenge the president's endorsed picks.
What Are the Political Risks for Cruz?
Cruz's endorsements carry real political risk. If Jones and Evette win their runoffs, Cruz could face Trump's wrath, likely complicating his 2028 prospects. However, by endorsing Wilson in South Carolina, Cruz is building a relationship with a potentially influential ally in a traditional early primary state.
By breaking with Trump in these primaries, Cruz is directly challenging a central pillar of the president's political brand: his reputation as the GOP's kingmaker. Trump has long viewed primary endorsements as a measure of his influence inside the Republican Party.
So far this cycle, Trump-backed candidates have won every federal or statewide primary except one. That notable exception happened right here in Iowa, where Rep. Randy Feenstra lost the GOP primary for governor despite Trump's backing.
How is Cruz Positioning Himself for 2028?
As he lays the groundwork for a 2028 bid for president, Cruz has identified key policy areas where he is willing to break with Trump's White House.
The senator privately told donors last year that Trump's tariffs would damage the economy and potentially cost Republicans control of Congress, as Axios first reported in January. In talks with donors, Cruz also criticized Vice President Vance, another potential 2028 presidential candidate who could run with Trump's support. Cruz has accused Vance of wrongly advancing an anti-interventionist foreign policy.
Behind the scenes, the Texas Republican has been taking concrete steps to prepare for a 2028 run. He has been giving high-profile speeches and hosting a podcast and syndicated radio show, which has given him entree to small donors who could be helpful in a future campaign. He also has repeatedly criticized podcaster and Vance ally Tucker Carlson, whom he has accused of promoting antisemitism and an anti-Israel foreign policy.