State Officials, Delegates & Politicos React to Cruz Avoiding Trump Endorsement

The week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningJuly 22, 2016 12:53 pm

Time for our Friday look at the week that was – joining the Standard is Aman Batheja, managing editor of the Texas Tribune.

Thursday night – the last night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland – was a long one for political reporters and delegates alike. Donald Trump’s acceptance speech clocked in at a little over an hour – and people are still talking about Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s Wednesday night speech, wherein he avoided endorsing Trump.

“Everyone is just focused on Ted Cruz at this point, which might have been his intention I’m not sure,” Batheja says. “The reaction to his speech has been very divisive.”

This morning, Batheja says Trump went off on Cruz in a press conference.  doubling down on everything he said about his opponent during the primaries. Cruz supporters back home had a lot to say as well, with some saying they aren’t sure they will vote for him again.

“(Trump) brought up whether his dad was involved in the JFK assassination, and why he had tweeted photos of Cruz’s wife, and he just doubled down on everything bad he had ever said about Cruz during the primaries – it was amazing to watch,” he says.

Cruz supporters back home had a lot to say as well, and some aren’t sure they will vote for him again.

What you’ll hear in this segment: 

– Reactions from the Texas Delegation and state officials on Cruz’s RNC speech

– What could be next for Cruz’s political career

– The possible primary challenge on the horizon for Cruz’s re-election brought on by Roger Stone and Alex Jones