Ted Cruz Visits Regent for Presidential Forum

Following the 10th Republican debate in his home state of Texas, and with his sights set on Super Tuesday, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, one of the top three GOP contenders, made a stopover at Regent University’s Virginia Beach campus Friday, February 26, to participate in the Presidential Candidate Forums series.

The packed event featured opening remarks from Cruz, a live interview with Regent Founder, Chancellor and CEO, Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, and an audience Q&A session moderated by Jay Sekulow, New York Times bestselling author and chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice and the European Centre for Law and Justice.

Cruz is the fourth presidential candidate to participate in Regent University’s Presidential Candidate Forums, hosted by the university’s popular Executive Leadership Series (ELS), which provides candidates an opportunity to discuss their campaign platforms in a balanced, non-debate format. Regent does not support or oppose any candidate; presidential candidates from both parties have been invited to participate in future Presidential Candidate Forums.

In his opening remarks, Cruz discussed the importance of Super Tuesday as well as Justice Scalia’s passing and its implications on the U.S. Supreme Court and the Bill of Rights. Cruz characterized Justice Scalia as a “lion of the law” and a “fierce defender of the Bill of Rights,” and emphasized that his passing marks the significance of this election for both the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch.

“We are one liberal justice away from a five-justice left-wing majority – the likes of which this country has never seen – that will undermine our basic rights,” Cruz noted. “As someone who has spent his entire adult life fighting to defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, every justice I appoint to the court will be a principled Constitutionalist with a proven record who will vigorously defend the Bill of Rights for your children and for mine,” he confirmed.

The live-interview portion of the series between Cruz and Robertson focused on a wide range of topics such as Cruz’s strategy to win the nomination, the divisiveness of the debates, ISIS, foreign affairs and his top priorities as president. Those priorities include appointing a principled constitutionalist to the U.S. Supreme Court, economic growth and restoring America’s leadership in the world.

Cruz went on to note that the first five things he will do as president are to rescind every illegal and unconstitutional executive action that President Obama has initiated; have the Department of Justice open an investigation on Planned Parenthood and prosecute any criminals; instruct all federal agencies to stop the persecution of religious liberty; rip up the Iranian nuclear deal; and move the American Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, showing Israel and the world that America is back.

Following the live interview, Sekulow offered questions from the audience. Cruz discussed his ideas on how to help people climb the economic ladder out of poverty, and shared his plan to reform and fix Veterans Affairs.

Cruz announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in March 2015. Prior to becoming the first Hispanic to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate, Cruz served in private law practice and as solicitor general for the state of Texas. He has authored more than 80 U.S. Supreme Court briefs and argued 43 oral arguments, including nine before the U.S. Supreme Court. Cruz has won an unprecedented series of landmark national victories including defending U.S. sovereignty; defending the 2nd Amendment; and defending both the constitutionality of the Ten Commandments monument at the Texas State Capitol and the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. This was Cruz’s first visit to Regent.

Learn more about Regent University’s Presidential Candidate Forums.