"Cruz had never run for political office but bolstered his political credentials arguing in front of the state Supreme Court as the longest-serving solicitor general in Texas history"

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdlB0fpPN8MLKZmX4eJbMdN_b2GQ?docId=d9bfc52230ad40f3a42d56042334736e

Texas GOP chooses tea party-backed Cruz for Senate

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

"Cruz memorized the U.S. Constitution while in high school and successfully painted his opponent as wishy-washy — even though they actually disagree on little, either politically or ideologically. The 41-year-old Cruz had never run for political office but bolstered his political credentials arguing in front of the state Supreme Court as the longest-serving solicitor general in Texas history."