Two Democratic precinct chairs in Harris County, Texas, are making headlines with a tongue-in-cheek proposal to bar Senator Ted Cruz from attending college playoff games in the state. Charles Kuffner and Bill Kelly, both local Democratic leaders, have authored a resolution aimed at what they call the Cruz Curse— a ‘well-known curse’ that Cruz allegedly brings to Texas sports teams. The resolution humorously cites Cruz’s track record of attending major games that ended in heartbreak for Texas fans.
“The nine scariest words for any college fan to hear are ‘I’m Ted Cruz and I’m coming to your game,’” said Kelly in a statement accompanying the proposal. The so-called “Cruz curse” has been a recurring theme in Texas sports commentary. The Houston Chronicle editorial board even detailed it in 2023, highlighting key losses such as the Houston Rockets’ playoff defeat in 2018 and Texas Tech’s loss in the NCAA men’s finals in 2019 — all attended by Cruz.
Resolution Highlights Cruz’s Losing Streak at Texas Games
The resolution humorously calls for cooperation among community and sporting entities to keep the senator from attending future playoff games, citing yet another disappointment when the University of Houston fell to the University of Florida in last month’s NCAA men’s basketball championship — a game Cruz attended.
Kelly and Kuffner clarified the intent is more comedic than confrontational. On his blog, Kuffner wrote, “Silliness aside, a little mockery is a good tool to have in your belt for when it is needed.” Kelly echoed this sentiment in an interview, saying, “This should be something that Republicans and Democrats can agree on: Ted Cruz needs to stay away from college games.”
This isn’t the first time Democrats have seized on the narrative of Cruz bringing bad luck to Texas teams. During his campaign against Cruz last year, former Representative Colin Allred (D-Texas) released a satirical ad warning that “sports fans across Texas are suffering from the same affliction: the Ted Cruz curse.”
Cruz Team Brushes Off ‘Partisan Stunt’
While many have taken the resolution in stride as a piece of political satire, Cruz’s camp wasn’t amused. A spokesperson for the senator dismissed the resolution as a “partisan stunt” and questioned its newsworthiness. “Senator Cruz has been attending Texas sports games his entire life. When they win, he’s there. When they lose, he’s there,” the spokesperson said, adding pointedly, “When Texas Democrats lose, he’s almost always there.”
Despite the resolution’s lack of legal standing, it reflects an ongoing trend of using humor and cultural touchpoints to draw political lines and engage the public. Whether viewed as lighthearted fun or political theater, the “Cruz curse” resolution has sparked a fresh round of bipartisan banter — and brought national attention to Texas’ ever-entertaining political landscape.
Visit more of our news! CIO Women Magazine.
