Ted Cruz Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump for winning the Republican presidential nomination — but did not endorse him — and encourage voters to "stand and speak and to vote your conscience."
"I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination last night," the Texas senator and 2016 rival told delegates at the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. "And, like each of you, I would like to see the principles of our party prevail in November."
The comment brought sustained applause from the crowd, including from members of Donald Trump's family.
But the crowd booed Cruz at the end of the speech — even chanting "We want Trump" — when it became clear that Cruz would not fully endorse him.
Trump had just walked into the arena, and many delegates turned their attention to the nominee.
Cruz made the congratulations immediately after welcoming the cheering crowd and saying that "Heidi and I are honored to join you here in Cleveland, where Lebron James just led an incredible comeback victory.
"I am convinced America is going to come back, too."
He used the recent slaying of Dallas police officers Michael Smith — one of five killed in an ambush by a sniper after a peaceful demonstration in the city's downtown — to illustrate the significance of the election.
"We’re fighting, not for one particular candidate or one campaign, but because each of us wants to be able to tell our kids and grandkids … that we did our best for their future, and for our country.
"America is more than just a land mass between two oceans," Cruz continued. "America is an idea, a simple yet powerful idea: freedom matters.
"For much of human history, government power has been the unavoidable constant in life — government decrees, and the people obey.
"Not here. We have no king or queen. No dictator. 'We the people' constrain government," he said.
"Our nation is exceptional because it was built on the five most powerful words in the English language: I want to be free.
"Never has that message been more needed than today.
"We stand here tonight a nation divided," the senator said. "Partisan rancor, anger, even hatred are tearing America apart.
"Citizens are furious — rightly furious — at a political establishment that cynically breaks its promises and ignores the will of the people."
Cruz then called for a "return to freedom" that includes religious freedom, school choice, trade, speech — and support for the Second Amendment and for "appointing Supreme Court justices who don’t dictate policy, but instead follow the Constitution."
He also called for tighter immigration laws and a policy that — "yes, builds a wall to keep us safe."
"Freedom will lift people out of dependency, to the dignity of work," he said. "We can do this."
He talked about how the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, signed the Emancipation Proclamation — and how the party also passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act and battled Jim Crow laws.
"We deserve leaders who stand for principle," Cruz said. "Unite us all behind shared values. Cast aside anger for love.
"That is the standard we should expect, from everybody."
He also called on voters to "don't stay home in November.
"Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience," he said. "Vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution."
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