Sen. Cruz Makes Senior Staff Changes
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today announced three senior staff changes in his Washington, D.C. office.
Chip Roy, who has served as Sen. Cruz’s chief of staff since December 2012, will become senior advisor and take on a larger role in the senator’s political operations. Paul Teller, who has served as the senator’s deputy chief of staff since January 2014, will become chief of staff. And James Christoferson, who served as deputy chief of staff for Cruz’s predecessor Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, will become deputy chief of staff for operations, working alongside Nick Muzin, Sen. Cruz’s current senior advisor and deputy chief of staff for strategy.
“These staff changes mean our team continues to get stronger,” Sen. Cruz said. “We will now have even greater capacity to represent the people of Texas, fight for limited government and advance the cause of liberty.”
Sen. Cruz continued, “Throughout our work together in the Senate, Chip Roy has played a vital role in the battles we’ve waged, the mountains we’ve climbed and our remarkable successes. So I’m very pleased that he will be applying his exceptional talents and passion toward fighting for conservative principles through our campaign arm.”
Sen. Cruz also said, “Paul Teller was a terrific addition eight months ago, and since then he has proven his reputation to be true—he’s an ardent activist for the conservative movement and a strong motivator of people to take bold actions for liberty. He will serve Texas and the nation well as our office’s chief of staff.”
Sen. Cruz concluded, “Bringing on James Christoferson as deputy chief of staff for operations gives us tremendous depth. His many years of service and leadership will help us ensure Texans continue to be well served.”
“I look forward to continuing to work to expand the messages of freedom, opportunity, and limited government to more Americans as part of Senator Cruz's political team. It has been a privilege to serve as Senator Cruz’s Chief of Staff for the last 20 months, and I am proud to have helped build a talented, conservative Senate team that has fought each and every day to serve the people of Texas and 'make DC listen.’” Roy said.
“Working for Senator Cruz is a true honor and privilege,” Teller said. “His statesmanship is inspiring every single day. And I look forward to the new challenges ahead as we work tirelessly to restore liberty in America and worldwide.”
“It is a privilege to join Senator Cruz’s staff and once again serve the hardworking people of Texas,” Christoferson said. “Texans demand the kind of bold leadership and resolve that Senator Cruz has demonstrated time and again, and I am honored to be part of his team as he continues to make positive and principled changes in Washington for Texas and the American people.”
Chip Roy previously served as a top aide to Texas Governor Rick Perry, directing his state-federal operations. Before that, Roy served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas and senior staffer to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in both his leadership office and his Judiciary Committee office. Roy became chief of staff for Sen. Cruz in December of 2012. He holds a law degree from the University of Texas, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia.
Paul Teller worked for the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 14 years—one year for the Committee on House Administration under Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) and nearly 13 years at the Republican Study Committee, the conservative caucus in the House--serving under seven chairmen, three of which as executive director. Teller became deputy chief of staff for Senator Cruz in January of 2014. Teller holds a political science Ph.D. from American University and a bachelor’s degree from Duke University.
James Christoferson has over ten years of senior legislative experience on Capitol Hill, including as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Most recently, he served as clerk of the Senate Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS). Christoferson also has extensive experience working in Texas state and local governments, including coordinating the economic development efforts for the Denton County Judge and serving as Texas’ Director of the Office of Defense Affairs, where he managed programs to assist communities adversely impacted by the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. Christoferson holds a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University.
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