Texas Sen. Ted Cruz might be facing a GOP coup by Rep. Mike McCaul, as donors and politicians quietly support McCaul mounting a 2018 bid for the Senate seat, three sources told CNN.
Cruz, who lost the Republican primary to Donald Trump, failed to back the presidential nominee in his party's national convention last month, which has raised eyebrows among his critics. A source told CNN McCaul hasn't ruled out a '18 run for the Senate, although he hasn't yet seriously considered it.
McCaul's campaign spokesman, Walter Zaykowski, amid his candidate's upcoming House primary, said "He is… very focused on preserving the Republican majorities in Congress and winning the White House."
Cruz was booed at the RNC when he refused to endorse Trump in his speech, and his advisers are expecting a primary challenger, according to the report.
"You either run scared or unopposed; we always run scared," Cruz campaign manager Jeff Roe said about a '18 challenge after the RNC last month, per CNN.
Funding shouldn't be an issue for a prospective McCaul challenge in the primary.
"Mike is very well-networked within the donor class," top Texas fundraiser George Seay told CNN. "He knows an awful lot of people."
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.