49 Simple Ted Cruz . Rafael edward cruz, known as ted cruz (born december 22, 1970, in calgary, canada) is the junior united states senator from texas, having won the seat vacated by kay bailey hutchison in 2012. Ted cruz gets called out on the senate floor over shutdown vote. Cruz also was a candidate for president of the united states in 2016. Father of two, @heidiscruz's husband, fighter for liberty. Cruz joins parler, says big tech has stacked the deck against.