Will Ted Cruz get primaried in his re-election bid in 2018? If yes, by who?

[UWS]

After droping out, Ted Cruz's unfavorability is higher than any other candidate who abandonned the race. Do you think that he could be challenged during his 2018 re-election campaign, which would cause Republican primaries for the nomination for Texas Senator? If yes, who could be a strong threat to Cruz?

[KingSweden]

George P. could do it, but I think he wants to be Governor. Someone wealthy like Mike McCaul might make the jump, self-fund and get establishment $ behind him. Cruz won't have the fresh outsider appeal again. I'd still expect Cruz to win, though, since he's done a lot to remake the Texas GOP in his image.

[Figueira]

Does "primaried" mean that he actually has to lose, or just that someone will run against him?

Anyway, I think someone will run against him, but honestly I think he would have been in more danger if he had actually won the nomination in a brokered convention and become associated with the establishment.

[RaphaelDLG]

Someone who is strong on crime, maybe with former prosecutorial experience, to come at him from the zodiac angle

[standwrand]

Texas loves Cruz. It would be stupid to primary him, but maybe McConnell might send somebody down to take Cruz out.

[Heisenberg]

Texas loves Cruz. It would be stupid to primary him, but maybe McConnell might send somebody down to take Cruz out.

Time for the GOP to get serious and move closer to the center.  They really should do that for survival.

[ElectionsGuy]

Somebody will, but they'll be some joke who'll get 12% in the primary.

[pho]

Which non-lunatic is going to find enough room to Cruz's right to primary him? (because running against Cruz from the left in a Republican primary would get you laughed out of Texas politics)

[IceSpear]

Running to the left of an incumbent Republican in Texas? LOL!

[Vosem]

...Republican Party voters (never mind Republican Party primary voters) in Texas love Ted Cruz. He's one of the safest Senators up for reelection in 2018. His chances of losing either the primary or the general essentially round down to zero. A slight chance exists he may decide he is finished with the Senate, considering he's not exactly the most beloved guy there, but failing that he'll return for six more years.

[RogueBeaver]

Running to the left of an incumbent Republican in Texas? LOL!

Just ask KBH.

...Republican Party voters (never mind Republican Party primary voters) in Texas love Ted Cruz. He's one of the safest Senators up for reelection in 2018. His chances of losing either the primary or the general essentially round down to zero. A slight chance exists he may decide he is finished with the Senate, considering he's not exactly the most beloved guy there, but failing that he'll return for six more years.

[Kingpoleon]

Maybe Jason Villalba challenges him. Villalba is essentially Hutchison's protege, so I suppose he'd make a good fit.

As for the probability of success, the only thing Villalba could do is scorch earth to allow a hopefully very moderate Democrat to win.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

The only way I can see this happening is if some other Tea Party person of equal stature challenges Cruz along with an establishment type. Let's say Robert Paul, son of Ron Paul and brother of Rand, actually runs (he has resisted draft attempts and clearly has absolutely no interest at all in politics, but whatever, this is just a bland hypothetical) and gets ~12% of the vote while Mike McCaul runs with establishment support. This scenario still doesn't guarantee McCaul winning a majority and avoiding a runoff that Cruz would easily win.

[Maxwell]

I'm sure Cruz will get a challenge but they'll only get like 20-25% of the vote, maybe mid 30% if they are lucky. Cruz will probably run for President in 2020.

[Coolface Sock #42069]

No, WAY too popular