Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has hired Brian Phillips as senior adviser to his political action committee, the latest move to beef up his staff for a possible run at the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.
Mr. Phillips, the former communications director for Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican, will officially join Mr. Cruz’s Jobs, Growth, and Freedom PAC on March 14, he confirmed Monday to The Washington Times.
Mr. Cruz’s PAC was formed in 2013 to support the Texas Republican’s presidential ambitions. By January, the PAC had raised $2.2 million, ending 2014 with just over $130,000 of cash on hand, according to Open Secrets, which traces federal campaign contributions.
Mr. Cruz’s PAC can raise unlimited funds for him, but can’t legally coordinate with him or his campaign once he officially announces a bid for the White House.
Mr. Cruz has been making his political ambitions known, hiring Rick Tyler, a longtime adviser to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, as a senior communications adviser for the PAC. Last fall, Chip Roy, Mr. Cruz’s chief of staff, announced he would would leave his Senate position to help run Mr. Cruz’s political campaign.
The tea party-backed candidate plans to release in June a book titled “A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Miracle of America,” which The Associated Press reports will tell Mr. Cruz’s story and his message to voters prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Calls to Mr. Cruz’s office for comment weren’t immediately returned.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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