Sen. Ted Cruz says 'the most fun I've ever had in my life' was running for president in 2016 and that he'd run again 'in a heartbeat'

• Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he'd run for president again "in a heartbeat."

• Sitting for an interview with a 15-year-old, Cruz said he could win the GOP nomination in 2024.

• "You know, there's a reason, historically, why the runner-up is almost always the next nominee."

Although he's officially undeclared, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he would run for president again and predicted he could win the 2024 nomination in an interview with The Truth Gazette, a conservative website and YouTube page.

Speaking with the Gazette's founder, 15-year-old Brilyn Hollyhand, Cruz reflected fondly on his 2016 presidential bid.

"Absolutely. In a heartbeat," Cruz said when asked if he'd consider another run for the Oval Office. "You know, I ran in 2016 — it was the most fun I've ever had in my life. We had a very crowded field. We had 17 candidates in the race, a very strong field."

Citing the likes of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, as well as former GOP nominees John McCain and Mitt Romney, Cruz said history is on his side should he run in 2024.

"You know, there's a reason, historically, why the runner-up is almost always the next nominee," Cruz said, citing what he described as "a huge base of support."

As Insider's Robin Bravender reported in September, Cruz has been eyeing another presidential bid and largely maintained a group of loyal staffers who could help him spring another one into action.

Cruz is also up for reelection in his Senate seat in 2024.

While the senator spoke optimistically about his 2016 run, the campaign came at a cost for his family.

Former President Donald Trump insulted Cruz's wife over her looks and threatened to "spill the beans" about an unspecified allegation. Trump also implicated Cruz's father in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy in what became an increasingly petty feud between the two right up through the Republican National Convention, where Cruz did not endorse Trump in his speech.

"It's not easy to tick me off," Cruz said at one point during the 2016 campaign after Trump insulted his wife, Heidi. "I don't get angry often, but if you mess with my wife, if you mess with my kids, that will do it every time. Donald, you're a sniveling coward and leave Heidi the hell alone."

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