Ted Cruz faces seeking 3rd term despite pressure for 2-term limit

Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, was confronted on Sunday for seeking a third term in the Senate, even though he had previously pushed to limit terms to two six-year terms.

During an appearance on CBS News’ Confront the Nationhost Margaret Brennan asked the senator, “Why don’t you hold yourself to that standard? You said you’re running for a third term.”

“I’m a passionate advocate of term limits. I think Congress would work much better if every senator was limited to two terms, if every member of the House was limited to three terms. I introduced a constitutional amendment to put that in the Constitution,” Cruz replied.

Last November, the Texas Republican confirmed that he plans to run for the Senate again in 2024, even though he reintroduced a bill last month that would bar senators from serving more than two terms. The constitutional amendment would also prevent House Representatives from serving more than three two-year terms.

Those who served their terms before the bill is eventually signed into law will not be subject to the proposed term limits. This means that if the bill passes Congress, Cruz would not be limited to 2036, according to The Texas Tribune last week.

On Sunday, Cruz said he would abide by term limits if the proposed amendment passes.

“If and when it passes, I’ll happily comply. I never said I was going to comply unilaterally. I’ll tell you what, when the socialists and when the swamp…will be ready to leave Washington, I will be more than happy to abide by the same rules that apply to everyone. But until then, I will continue to fight for 30 million Texans because they asked me to.” -he declares.

Cruz said in a statement in late January that term limits are important in solving “what’s wrong with Washington, DC.”

“The Founding Fathers envisioned a government of citizen legislators who would serve for a few years and go home, not a government run by a small special interest group and permanent, permanent politicians who take advantage of the collapse of Washington to govern from ‘a way that is totally irresponsible to the American people,’ added the senator from Texas.

Last November, Cruz said he was focused on the “battles” in the Senate, adding that “we have to stand up and fight” the policies that are inflicting “so much harm” on Americans.

Newsweek contacted Cruz’s media office for further comment.