Cruz, a Republican, has been criticized in recent years for leaving Texas or being out of the state during weather emergencies.
鈥淪enator Cruz is currently on pre-planned work travel that was scheduled weeks in advance,鈥� a spokesperson for Cruz said Wednesday. 鈥淗e will be back in Texas before the storm is projected to hit.鈥�
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was spotted earlier today, January 20, 2026, on a plane heading to Laguna Beach as the state of Texas braces for a rare ice threat and arctic cold front.
鈥� Shea Jordan Smith (@shea_jordan)
A photo on social media appearing to depict Cruz boarding a plane, reportedly heading to Laguna Beach, California, was circulating social media on Wednesday.
RELATED:
Asked by a Houston Public Media reporter if Cruz鈥檚 office could confirm whether he was flying to Laguna Beach, a spokesperson said, 鈥淵ou have the tweet with the pic.鈥�
An is expected to push its way into Texas late this week, with chances for freezing rain and ice in several parts of the state, .
In 2021, prior to the that left millions without electricity, . He later said in a statement that he did so 鈥渨anting to be a good dad.鈥�
Last July, when the deadly floods struck Kerrville and Central Texas, Cruz had been according to his office.
Copyright 2026 Houston Public Media News 88.7
