Ted Cruz to run for re-election in Senate in 2018

WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who suspended his presidential campaign last week, said Wednesday he will definitely run for re-election when his term is up in 2018.

Cruz returned to his day job as the Lone Star State's junior senator this week amid immense media attention after quitting the presidential race. Cruz, who ran initially as a political outsider shifted tactics as he became the last candidate with a real chance of denying Donald Trump the Republican nomination. Cruz instead embraced institutional support from some of the Washington insiders he has railed against.

Now, in seeking a second term, Cruz could have 12 years under his belt in the Senate, a place where many of his colleagues detest him. Cruz is a regular thorn in the side of his own party's leadership and his refusal to go along with party orthodoxy has often been branded egotistical.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was diplomatic when asked about Cruz's return to the Senate, saying he was "happy to have him back."

Cruz made news amid his return to Washington when reporters pressed him on whether he will support Trump in the general election. Taking the tack several other of his former rivals have, Cruz did not immediately endorse Trump, but left the door open to doing so later on.

"There will be plenty of time for voters to make the determination of who they're going to support," Cruz said.

Cruz raised some eyebrows earlier Tuesday when he suggested to conservative radio host Glenn Beck he would consider re-entering the presidential race if voters in Nebraska, a state he was expected to win, handed him a victory with an anti-Trump protest vote. That long shot possibility never materialized as Trump won the state handily Tuesday night.