Before U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz can campaign against a Democrat in the general election he will have to beat another one who has weaseled his way into the Republican primary.
Stefano de Stefano, a Houston attorney, has announced his intent to challenge Cruz in the Republican primary in March 2018.
De Stefano, who has been a Texan for only five years, has only reportedly voted in one Republican primary. He has also never donated to any Texas Republican political campaign. Also, prior to his move to Texas, de Stefano was a registered Democrat in the deep blue state of New York.
Though there is still much time remaining between now and the looming Republican primary, de Stefano has spent his efforts thus far on the campaign trail on social media. On Twitter, de Stefano has attacked Cruz over his pro-consumer freedom amendment to the Obamacare repeal bill that has thus far failed to pass the U.S. Senate.
When he’s not busy keyboard fighting Cruz’s conservative reform efforts, he is defending sanctuary cities, and lauding fellow moderate Republicans for calling on Congress to compromise with Democrats and retain large portions of Obamacare.
While de Stefano still has plenty of time in which he can attempt to convince Republicans to pick him instead of Cruz, he’s likely to face an uphill battle in doing so. Texans have a long history of backing conservative fighters who will champion the values of the ruby-red Republican state and with Cruz they have a proven commodity.
Texas’ Republican primary election will be held on March 6, 2018. The winner of the election is expected to face Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke of El Paso in the general election.
