Cruz plans major 2022 campaign swing — including key states in the 2024 presidential race

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is embarking on a cross-country midterm campaign swing as he weighs a possible 2024 presidential bid.

Cruz will travel to 17 states to campaign for GOP candidates this fall, including three states — Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada — which are home to early contests on the GOP presidential nominating calendar. The month-long tour, which begins Oct. 1 and wraps up Nov. 4, will bolster more than two-dozen contenders, several of which are running in high-profile statewide races.

The swing highlights the groundwork that Cruz, who unsuccessfully ran in the 2016 GOP primary, is laying for another potential national campaign. A slate of other would-be contenders — including the likes of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, among others — have also been working aggressively to bolster Republican midterm candidates across the country.

Such travel, which is customary for those looking to run nationally, helps potential White House aspirants introduce themselves to voters, earn chits and deepen their relationships with activists who play an influential role in the nominating contest.

Cruz has yet to push back on speculation he could run in 2024, though he has said former President Donald Trump's decision on whether to wage a comeback would impact the calculus for any would-be contender.

“There are a lot of candidates out there feeling their oats and boasting, ‘I’m running no matter what. I don’t care what Donald Trump says.’ Anyone who says that is lying. That’s an idiotic statement for someone to make who’s actually thinking about running,” Cruz told the Washington Examiner.

The tour is being hosted by a pro-Cruz super PAC, Truth and Courage PAC. The list of hopefuls Cruz is campaigning for includes Senate candidates Blake Masters of Arizona, Herschel Walker of Georgia and J.D. Vance of Ohio.

In Iowa, Cruz will boost a pair of House candidates, Rep. Ashley Hinson and GOP challenger Zach Nunn. In New Hampshire, he will campaign for congressional hopeful Karoline Leavitt. And in Nevada, he will campaign for three congressional candidates and Adam Laxalt, who is running for Senate.