Houston Energy Attorney Launches Surprise Primary Challenge to Ted Cruz

HOUSTON, Texas, July 17, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Stefano de Stefano, a free market Republican and Houston-based energy attorney, emerged Monday as the sole Republican primary challenger for Sen. Ted Cruz’ seat in the U.S. Senate.

"Texas Republicans deserve a big-tent alternative who can bring private sector know-how to bear against the gridlock in our federal legislature," said de Stefano.

"Cruz' presidential ambitions lead him to pander to energy interests in other states that directly compete with Texas' leadership in the energy sector. Texans deserve a senator who will put Texas first."

Stefano de Stefano, Texas Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate

Until de Stefano, Ted Cruz faced a clear path to the Republican nomination. A primary challenge from the center scrambles the electoral calculus and threatens to spoil the faceoff between Tea Party incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic hopeful Beto O'Rourke.

"People are fed up with political posturing on either side of the aisle," said de Stefano. "Texans want a reasonable candidate they can trust to get the job done."

Although de Stefano supported Ted Cruz in 2012, he was "grossly disappointed" in Cruz' record as Texas' junior senator, with a government shutdown under his belt and what de Stefano calls a history of promoting his personal brand over Texas interests. "Cruz' presidential ambitions lead him to pander to energy interests in other states that directly compete with Texas' leadership in the energy sector," de Stefano said. "Texans deserve a senator who will put Texas first."

De Stefano intends to rally a coalition of jilted voters to unseat the incumbent.

Watch the full announcement about Stefano de Stefano's decision to run and learn about his #4forTX platform via remarks broadcast on his campaign's Facebook page (@StefanoForTX) on Thursday, July 20, at 2:00 p.m. CST.

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Source: Stefano for Texas