I first met Ted Cruz in 2005, when he was serving as Texas’ Solicitor General and leading Texas’ pro-life efforts to protect parental rights on the issue of abortion, as a pro-life law from another state was before the U. S. Supreme Court for review. Ted Cruz was Counsel of Record for a brief filed on behalf of Texas and 17 other states in that important case. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in that case was a victory for life and parental rights (Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England). Ted Cruz was also Counsel of Record on a brief filed for Texas and 12 other states in a case to defend the ban on partial-birth abortion. In this case (Gonzales v. Carhart) the U.S. Supreme Court, in a landmark 5-4 decision and pro-life victory, upheld the ban on partial-birth abortion, a gruesome procedure that ends the life of a baby that is “partially” outside the womb.

For over ten years, starting long before he was ever a candidate for elective office, I’ve had the honor of watching in admiration and at times working alongside Ted Cruz. I have continued to watch him personally and professionally lead efforts to defend the values of faith, family and freedom when it mattered most and often when no one of his caliber would show up. In short, these values are not simply what Ted Cruz supports, this is who he is – it’s written on his heart, the direct fruit of his Christian faith.

Before his time in the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz served as a law clerk for Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the U.S. Supreme Court and then served as Solicitor General for the State of Texas. In his professional roles and in private practice, Ted Cruz authored more than 80 U.S. Supreme Court briefs and argued nine times before the U.S. Supreme Court, many times wearing his cowboy boots, winning landmark victories for our First Amendment religious liberties and for the Second Amendment.

As our U.S. Senator, Ted Cruz has consistently kept his word, voted the right way, and been a national leader in advancing the pro-family, conservative agenda in Congress. He has received 100% vote ratings from leading conservative organizations like the Family Research Council, Concerned Women for America, Heritage Acton, National Right to Life, and many more.

Ted Cruz’s record proves he is a champion for religious liberty, having successfully defended the constitutionality of the Texas Ten Commandments monument that sits on the grounds of the Texas Capitol and the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. He filed a brief in support of the Kountze cheerleaders who created football banners with Bible verses, and when Houston pastors had their sermons subpoenaed by the Mayor of Houston, he immediately led the effort calling for the subpoenas to be withdrawn, including hosting a press conference in Houston. The Mayor of Houston withdrew the pastor subpoenas shortly thereafter. It should have been of no surprise that Ted Cruz would come home to defend pastors as he is the son of a pastor and he was valedictorian of his high school graduation class at Second Baptist High School in Houston.

Ted Cruz’s record proves he is a champion for marriage between one man and one woman as he has spoken out forcefully on the need to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous marriage decision. He has called for a constitutional amendment to restore the right of states to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman and has led efforts to protect the rights of people to exercise their beliefs about marriage without fear of government discrimination.

And Ted Cruz’ record proves he is champion for life. He has led efforts to defend the ban on partial-birth abortion at the U. S. Supreme Court, and he is currently leading efforts to defund Planned Parenthood from receiving taxpayer dollars and has co-sponsored legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. He has also led the fight to repeal every word of Obamacare. Ted Cruz recently joined a U. S. Supreme Court brief filed to defend Texas’ HB 2 law, a law that requires health and safety standards for abortion clinics, a case which will be argued before the Court on March 2nd.

For the first time in decades, Texas will play a critical role in choosing our Presidential nominee. Our beloved state has an historic opportunity to ensure that the people of Texas choose God-honoring, consistent-conservatives that will fight to uphold the biblical values of religious freedom, marriage, and life.

With the death of Justice Scalia, the stakes of this Presidential election could not be any higher. We must have a true conservative leader who we know, without a shadow of a doubt, will protect and defend our God-given freedoms and will appoint Justices to the Supreme Court that faithfully uphold the Constitution.

Ted Cruz is a man who is not afraid to stand alone for what is right, particularly when no one else will. Remember when Ted Cruz spoke for hours on the U. S. Senator floor in an effort to defund Obamacare?Leadership is not about making deals or compromising our values to get along – true leadership is about standing on principle and fighting to restore the Constitution and our foundational values. With two branches of government hanging in the balance, we simply can’t afford to gamble on whom we select as President this time.

This is why Texas Values Action has proudly endorsed Ted Cruz for President. When it comes to the issues of faith, family and freedom, Ted Cruz is simply the strongest candidate for President of the United States. Senator Cruz’s leadership, courage, and conservative track record on defending and championing religious liberty, God’s design for marriage, and innocent human life is unmatched.

His consistent conservative record is why leading conservative individuals and organizations across Texas and the nation are supporting Ted Cruz for President. Just a few of Ted Cruz’s prominent supporters include:

Gov. Greg Abbott
Gov. Rick Perry
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Numerous Texas legislators at the state, federal, and local level
Dr. James Dobson
Kelly Shackelford
Tony Perkins
Judge Paul Pressler
George Strake
Tim Von Dohlen
Tina Benkiser
Cathie Adams
National Organization for Marriage
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Young Conservatives of Texas
Tea Party Patriots

I have been honored to work alongside Ted Cruz for nearly 10 years on a variety of important efforts, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work on the issues of religious freedom, marriage and family, and life for nearly two decades. I am firmly convinced that Ted Cruz is the best hope for our country as our next President of the United States.

We hope all Texans will join with Texas Values Action in supporting Ted Cruz for President on Texas’ Primary Election Day, Tuesday March 1st.

CLICK HERE to find a full list of all of our endorsements.

May God continue to bless the great state of Texas!

Faithfully,

Jonathan Saenz
President, Texas Values Action

About Texas Values Action

Texas Values Action is the advocacy and legislative action arm of Texas Values, the largest statewide non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. Texas Values Action operates as a 501(c)(4) non-profit that directly advocates for faith, family, and freedom in the political arena. More information is available at txvaluesaction.org.