Ted Cruz racks up private jet flights ahead of midterms

Sen. Ted Cruz is ramping up Republican campaigning ahead of the November midterms while racking up significant private-jet travel costs. Through the first six months of the year, his Jobs, Freedom and Security PAC spent close to $200,000 on private air travel for the Texas Republican, including multiple flights during a March-to-September period that overlaps state GOP primaries. That is about twice as much as Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s Heartland Values PAC. Federal rules generally restrict House members, not senators, from private flights. The increased spending comes as Cruz tries to boost GOP prospects amid weak approval ratings for President Donald Trump.