Status is not support. Status tier = the furthest verifiable step taken (an FEC Statement of Candidacy (Form 2) or an on-the-record campaign launch). Momentum = weighted recent activity, not popularity. How to read this →
Last reviewed in the September 14, 2026 UTC daily build · latest signal September 8, 2026 (6 days ago).
Latest signal
Sen. Ted Cruz addresses 2028 presidential bid while in Iowa - KWTX source ↗ September 8, 2026 · 6 days ago · High confidence
Momentum over the last 30 days: from 40 to 80, high 80, low 40.
Formal FEC candidacy / launch
+40
Early-state travel (IA/NH/SC/NV)
+10
Donor meetings / PAC activity
+10
Campaign staffing / consultants
+10
National media blitz
+5
Recency boost (signal 6d ago)
+5
Momentum (capped 0–100)
80
Evidence & status history
2026-08-26
Ted Cruz says on podcast it’s “no secret that I want to be president” - The Texas Tribune source ↗
mediaBlitz· Low
2026-08-29
Sen. Ted Cruz criticizes Democrats as ‘Marxists and Islamists’ at Hinson event in Iowa source ↗
earlyState· Low
2026-09-04
Transcript of Senator Ted Cruz Interview: PBD Podcast #851 - The Singju Post source ↗
mediaBlitz· Low
2026-09-08
Fox’s Larry Kudlow Suggests Ted Cruz Announce Presidential Bid in November: ‘You Might Wanna Think About It’ - Yahoo source ↗
declared· Low
Early-state activity
Iowa
2 signals
Money movement — FEC, a separate axis
No FEC financial report on file — not a registered filer, or no totals yet. Money is never folded into the momentum score.
Tags
senateanti-Vance lane
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