Ted Cruz has been in the thick of American politics for over a decade, but behind the firebrand senator from Texas stands a woman who’s taken hits right alongside him—his wife, Heidi Cruz.
Since 2025, Cruz has chaired the Senate Commerce Committee, adding to his long-standing role as junior U.S. senator from Texas since 2013. His national presence, however, took a sharper turn during the 2016 Republican primaries, when the politician became one of Donald Trump’s loudest rivals—and the feud wasn’t limited to policy.
That year, the campaign trail got ugly. Trump, never one to pull punches, targeted Cruz’s family in a series of personal jabs, even dragging Heidi into the spotlight. Tensions exploded when Cruz publicly accused Trump and “his henchmen” of fueling false cheating rumors—an accusation that set off one of the most bitter moments of the race.
“In the last few days, Donald Trump has taken to attacking Heidi,” Cruz told the PBS News. “I think Heidi is the most beautiful, brilliant, amazing, fantastic, loving mom, an incredible wife and she’s my best friend in the whole world and I love you with all of my heart.”
Surprisingly, Trump went on to apologize in 2016 for insulting Cruz’s wife and father. But even then, Cruz held his ground and refused to endorse him during the convention.
Through all the noise, the couple stayed focused on family. Here’s where things stand between Ted and his spouse, Heidi, today—and how they’re raising their kids along the way.
They Have Been Married Since 2001
Cruz and Heidi Nelson tied the knot on May 27, 2001, after meeting just a year earlier while working as policy aides on George W. Bush’s presidential campaign.
Things moved quickly between them, and it wasn’t just casual. Heidi later recalled that during their very first dinner at a bar called Bitter End, Cruz grilled her about everything from her background to her 10- and 20-year plans.
More than two decades later, they’re still together, now raising two daughters and living in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston.
But things haven’t always been smooth. When Heidi moved to Texas to join her then–solicitor general husband, she faced a hard emotional adjustment. “When I came out of Washington and the White House, I didn’t feel that there was really a glass ceiling in the administration … and Texas was very different,” she admitted, referencing a period of depression she quietly battled early in their marriage.
They Have Two Daughters
The power duo is parents to two daughters. Their eldest, Caroline, was born on April 14, 2008. Two years later, they welcomed their younger daughter, Catherine.
While Catherine has largely stayed out of the spotlight, Caroline has occasionally drawn attention, especially when it comes to her public comments on politics and her personal identity.
In 2022, LGBTQ Nation reported on a screenshot of a comment thread where Caroline described herself as “bi.” When someone asked if her father, known for his anti-LGBTQ stance, was aware, she replied, “I haven’t told him yet, I’m kinda nervous tbh but I don’t think he would be mad about it.”
Heidi Cruz Handles the Money—and Knows How to Raise It Too
Heidi isn’t just the senator’s wife—she’s a heavyweight in the world of finance. A Harvard Business School graduate with a background that includes working under Condoleezza Rice on the National Security Council, she’s been a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs since 2012.
During her husband Ted’s presidential run, she took the lead on fundraising. According to The Los Angeles Times, she made dozens of donor calls each day and once told a reporter, “the $10,800 contributions is my lane.”
Years earlier, in his 2012 Senate campaign, she played just as critical a role. She backed his choice to drain their liquid net worth for the cause. In a 2013 interview with The New York Times, Cruz shared that she fully supported the decision to “liquidate our entire net worth, liquid net worth, and put it into the campaign.”
