Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz (born December 22, 1970) is the junior U.S. Senator from Texas. A Republican, Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 and is the first Hispanic American to serve as a U.S. senator representing Texas. He is the chairman of the subcommittee on the Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. He is also the chairman of the United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness, U.S.