A pair of Texas Democrats are fed up with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. That’s nothing new in the realm of politics, but Harris County precinct chairs Charles Kuffner and Bill Kelly are talking sports this time around, and their solution is going viral.
In his nearly 30 years of public service, Cruz has been called many things, but a “curse” on Texas sports teams may cut deepest. In a blog post on Wednesday, May 14, Kuffner took it to another level by proposing a resolution banning Cruz from attending Texas sporting events.
What does the resolution say?
The tongue-in-cheek resolution cites what’s described as a well-covered “curse” against college teams across Texas whenever Cruz is in attendance. The latest example of the curse or jinx, the authors say, was Houston’s loss to Florida in the NCAA championship game in April. In a press release announcing the resolution, Kelly explained their position.
“The 9 scariest words for any college fan to hear are ‘I’m Ted Cruz and I’m coming to your game,’” Kelly said. “Republicans, Democrats, and Independents — hell, even fans from Lubbock to Houston — can all agree that when your college team is playing, Ted Cruz is the absolute last person you want to see.”
One clause of the resolution highlights team records with Cruz in attendance.
“Whereas: The overall combined record for college football teams for the Texas Longhorns, the Baylor Bears, and the Texas A&M Aggies with Ted Cruz in attendance is now 1-8.”
How long has the ‘Cruz Curse’ been a thing?
This isn’t the first time Democrats have latched on to the “Cruz curse,” which has been living in social media feeds since 2017 or 2018, according to which “source” you believe. Former Democrat Rep. Colin Allred used the concept in a campaign ad in 2024 while unsuccessfully trying to unseat the three-term senator.
But if the “Ted Cruz Curse” is to be believed, there is bad news for Democrats and Texas sports fans. During a May 6 Senate hearing regarding the future of sports broadcasting, Cruz discussed the cost associated with being a fan.
“If fans want to spend their hard-earned money on sports streaming,” Cruz said. “I don’t blame them. I’ve shelled out a hell of a lot of money to see the Houston Rockets and the Astros, and the Texans, and I intend to continue doing so.”
How did the Cruz camp respond?
Adding to Cruz’s “defense” was Macarena Martinez, communications director for the senator, who told reporters it was a partisan stunt that wasn’t worthy of news coverage.
“The Senator has been attending Texas sports games his entire life,” Martinez said. “When they win, he’s there. When they lose, he’s there. When Texas Democrats lose, he’s almost always there.”
Kuffner wrapped up his blog post by saying, “Silliness aside, a little mockery is a good tool to have in your belt for when it is needed.”
There is no word on what game the senator will attend next, but fans will surely keep tabs on the outcome.
