Cruz Wins Endorsements From 41 State Lawmakers

^{*Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout.}

In a show of home-state prowess, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has secured the endorsements of more than three dozen state lawmakers in his bid for the White House.

Cruz's presidential campaign announced Wednesday that he has won the support of 36 state representatives and five state senators. The slate amounts to more than a third of all Republican members of the Texas Legislature. 

The list includes many favorites of conservative activists, including all but five of the 19 legislators who voted against Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, for speaker of the House this past session. Also among the endorsers are 12 committee chairman and five vice chairmen.

The endorsements come as the GOP race for Cruz's home state heats up, with other candidates visiting Texas on a weekly basis and some beginning to assemble their own teams of state-level supporters. A confident Cruz has warned that rivals may "may discover a difficult path" if they try to go toe-to-toe with him in the Lone Star State.

State Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth suggested Wednesday that Cruz's opponents should heed not only the size, but also the breadth, of the list of endorsements, saying it represents "not just one segment or faction" of the Texas GOP. 

"There’s at least 41 of us that said, 'Even if with such a deep field, we see Sen. Cruz as a standout among them," said Krause, who endorsed Cruz shortly after he launched his campaign in March.

Several GOP state lawmakers had already announced their endorsements of Cruz. They include state Sens. Brian Birdwell of Granbury, Konni Burton of Colleyville, Brandon Creighton of Conroe and Bob Hall of Edgewood. In the Texas House, Cruz already has the public backing of at least three members: Reps. Bryan Hughes of Mineola, Matt Rinaldi of Irving and Tony Tinderholt of Arlington. 

In Washington, D.C., Cruz has lined up endorsements from six members of the Texas congressional delegation: Republican Reps. Randy Weber of Friendswood, Louie Gohmert of Tyler, Michael Burgess of Fort Worth, John Culberson of Houston, John Ratcliffe of Heath and Brian Babin of Woodville. 

State Senate

Brian Birdwell of Granbury

Konni Burton of Colleyville

Brandon Creighton of Conroe

Bob Hall of Edgewood

Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham

State House

Charles "Doc" Anderson of Waco

Cecil Bell Jr. of Magnolia

DeWayne Burns of Cleburne

Gary Elkins of Houston

Pat Fallon of Frisco

Allen Fletcher of Cypress

Dan Flynn of Canton

John Frullo of Lubbock

Dan Huberty of Houston

Bryan Hughes of Mineola

Mark Keough of The Woodlands

Stephanie Klick of Fort Worth

Matt Krause of Fort Worth

Brooks Landgraf of Odessa

Jodie Laubenberg of Parker

Jeff Leach of Plano

Will Metcalf of Conroe

Doug Miller of New Braunfels

Rick Miller of Sugar Land

Jim Murphy of Houston

Andrew Murr of Junction

Larry Phillips of Sherman

John Raney of College Station

Debbie Riddle of Tomball

Matt Rinaldi of Irving

Matt Schaefer of Tyler

Mike Schofield of Katy

Matt Shaheen of Plano

Wayne Smith of Baytown

Stuart Spitzer of Kaufman

Tony Tinderholt of Arlington

Scott Turner of Frisco

Molly White of Belton

John Wray of Waxahachie

Bill Zedler of Arlington

John Zerwas of Richmond