How long has Ted Cruz been a senator? Is there a term limit in Texas?

United States Senator Ted Cruz has won a third term in the 2024 election, defeating the Democratic candidate, Rep. Colin Allred.

He has been serving as a U.S. Senator from Texas since January 3, 2013, meaning he has been in office for over 11 years, and is looking forward to another six in power.

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Cruz was re-elected in 2018 for a second six-year term, which will end in January 2025. U.S. senators are elected for six years, and there is no limit to the number of terms they can serve, either federally or specifically for Texas.

Senators can serve an unlimited number of terms, as long as they continue to be re-elected by voters in their state. So, in theory, Cruz could continue running for re-election for however long he chooses as long as he wins each election.

Ted Cruz filed bill to set term limits

Ironically, Cruz filed a bill last year to limit senators from serving more than two six-year terms, even as he made plans to run for his third term in office.

“Term limits are critical to fixing what’s wrong with Washington, D.C.,” the Republican said at the time.

“The Founding Fathers envisioned a government of citizen legislators who would serve for a few years and return home, not a government run by a small group of special interests and lifelong, permanently entrenched politicians who prey upon the brokenness of Washington to govern in a manner that is totally unaccountable to the American people,” his statement said.