--- title: Republican Convention: Ted Cruz Won't Vote Hillary Clinton description: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday he has no obligation to act like a "servile puppy" and vote for someone who insulted his wife and father canonical: https://time.com/4416845/ted-cruz-wont-vote-hillary-clinton/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-21T14:15:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:59:43.364Z article:section: Politics og:title: Ted Cruz Defends Convention Speech: Won't Be 'Servile Puppy' og:description: While he declined to endorse Donald Trump, he won't vote for Hillary Clinton og:url: https://time.com/4416845/ted-cruz-wont-vote-hillary-clinton/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda69cbd4a24c01ff/69889cf8cf40a894cfc44189/ben-lowey-rnc-republican-national-convention-16.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 7952 og:image:height: 4473 og:image:alt: TIMEPOL RNC og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Ted Cruz Defends Convention Speech: Won't Be 'Servile Puppy' twitter:description: While he declined to endorse Donald Trump, he won't vote for Hillary Clinton twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda69cbd4a24c01ff/69889cf8cf40a894cfc44189/ben-lowey-rnc-republican-national-convention-16.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Ted Cruz Says He Won't Support Donald Trump For Attacks on His Wife and Father > Sponsored content. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jul 21, 2016 2:15 PM UTC  Texas Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, on July 20, 2016. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, on July 20, 2016. Benjamin Lowy—TIME  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jul 21, 2016 2:15 PM UTC Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that he has no obligation to act like a “servile puppy” and vote for someone who insulted his wife and his father, [defending the controversial convention speech](http://time.com/4416260/republican-convention-ted-cruz-speech/?xid=homepage) in which he declined to endorse Donald Trump and was [booed off stage](http://time.com/4416507/republican-convention-ted-cruz-delegates-boo/?xid=homepage). “I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father,” said Cruz, explaining that he would not vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton but would also not endorse Trump, according to the Associated Press. “What does it say when you stand up and say, ‘Vote your conscience,’ and rabid supporters of our nominee begin screaming, ‘What a horrible thing to say,'” Cruz said, speaking to the Texas delegation in Cleveland on Thursday morning. ### Scenes from the Republican National Convention  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence stand with their families at the end of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Attendees celebrate as the Republican National Convention comes to a close on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Duck Dynasty reality TV star Phil Robertson on the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump kisses running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence at the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016, in Cleveland. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump with his children Eric and Ivanka Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, on July 20, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  A man poses at Instagram's "Mini Oval" office at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump supporter Rachel Day, from Akron, stands outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Troopers monitor protests outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Mounted police from Fort Worth, Texas monitor the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Attendees hold signs at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attends the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  A man attends the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Attendees hold signs at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A Texas delegate tallies up the votes for the Donald Trump's nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Delegates cheer at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Comedian Eric Andre is escorted from the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Boxing promoter Don King attends the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump Jr. speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Tiffany Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A screen displays the state flag of Mississippi, the only state that includes the Confederate battle emblem in its official state flag, at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Buttons are displayed for sale outside the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  A pair of men interact with protesters in the Cleveland Public Square at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Trevor Leis, of Lime, supports open carry at the Cleveland Public Square amidst various protests at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  A police officer stands on a protective crowd control line in the Cleveland Public Square at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Delegates pose for a group photo at the Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME  A man dons a "Make America Great Again" hat at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Melania Trump kisses her husband, Donald Trump in front of an ecstatic crowd, on July 18, 2016. Ben Lowy for TIME  Scenes from the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump appears on stage at the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME “If we can’t make the case for the American people that voting for our party’s nominee is consistent with voting your conscience, is consistent with defending freedom and being faithful to the Constitution, then we are not going to win and we don’t deserve to win,” he said. During the course of the Republican primary, Trump [criticized the appearance](http://time.com/4270412/trump-cruz-twitter-wives/) of Cruz’s wife, Heidi, and also made an [unfounded accusation](http://time.com/4316401/donald-trump-ted-cruz-father-john-f-kennedy/) that Cruz’s father was linked to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. **Read more:** [Donald Trump and the Truth About Lee Harvey Oswald and Cuba](http://time.com/4316494/lee-harvey-oswald-donald-trump/) “What I said last night is what I believe is the only path to saving our country, and it is not simply blindly chanting a name and yelling down dissenters,” Cruz said. “I am going to tell the truth each and every day, whether or not it is politically helpful or convenient.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4416845/ted-cruz-wont-vote-hillary-clinton/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4416845/ted-cruz-wont-vote-hillary-clinton/"},"headline":"Ted Cruz Says He Won't Support Donald Trump For Attacks on His Wife and Father","datePublished":"2016-07-21T14:15:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:59:43.364Z","description":"While he declined to endorse Donald Trump, he won't vote for Hillary Clinton","url":"https://time.com/4416845/ted-cruz-wont-vote-hillary-clinton/","keywords":["Republican National Convention","ted cruz","Donald Trump"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda69cbd4a24c01ff/69889cf8cf40a894cfc44189/ben-lowey-rnc-republican-national-convention-16.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda69cbd4a24c01ff/69889cf8cf40a894cfc44189/ben-lowey-rnc-republican-national-convention-16.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TIMEPOL RNC","caption":"TIMEPOL RNC","creditText":"Benjamin Lowy—TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/republican-national-convention/","name":"Republican National Convention"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4416845/ted-cruz-wont-vote-hillary-clinton/","name":"Ted Cruz Says He Won't Support Donald Trump For Attacks on His Wife and Father"}}]}] ```