![Ted Cruz in high school at Second Baptist School. ted-cruz-life-career-3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-3.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By TIME Photo and Jen Tse
![Rafael with Ted Cruz as an infant ted-cruz-life-career-1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Young Ted Cruz. ted-cruz-life-career-2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz in high school at Second Baptist School. ted-cruz-life-career-3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![ted-cruz-life-career-4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz on election night, Nov. 3, 1992 at Harvard Law School. ted-cruz-life-career-5](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-5.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![SLUG: NA/Supreme DATE: 03.01.2006 CREDIT: Kevin Clark/The Wa ted-cruz-life-career-6](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-6.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz 2012 ted-cruz-life-career-7](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-7.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Texas Primary Senate ted-cruz-life-career-8](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-8.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Rafael Caroline Cruz ted-cruz-life-career-9](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-9.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Texas Senate Republican candidate Ted Cruz speaks during the Republican National Convention. ted-cruz-life-career-10](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz, Joe Biden, Heidi Nelson, Catherine, Caroline ted-cruz-life-career-11](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) Pulls All Nighter Speaking In Congress Advocating The Defunding Of Affordable Health Care Act ted-cruz-life-career-12](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz ted-cruz-life-career-13](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz ted-cruz-life-career-14](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ted Cruz, Heidi Cruz, Catherine Cruz, Caroline Cruz ted-cruz-life-career-15](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) waits backstage before addressing a legislative luncheon held as part of the "Road to Majority" conference in Washington ted-cruz-life-career-16](https://cdn.statically.io/img/api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/ted-cruz-life-career-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Eyewitness Accounts From the Trump Rally Shooting
- From 2022: How the Threat of Political Violence Is Transforming America
- ‘We’re Living in a Nightmare:’ Inside the Health Crisis of a Texas Bitcoin Town
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com