From 2012 to 2014, Cruz worked as a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual. In 2014 and 2015, he managed Michael Brooks-Jimenez's successful campaign for the Oklahoma Senate. He also worked as a legal assistant for Brooks-Jimenez's law firm. Cruz then joined the office of Congresswoman Kendra Horn, serving as her community outreach specialist until she left office in 2019.[3][4]
He was an attorney at Foshee & Yaffe until leaving the firm in 2021.[2]
Cruz has served on the board of directors for Variety Care since 2014.[2]
Cruz was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in November 2020 after incumbent Shane Stone resigned to take a job in Arizona.[2]
He was sworn into office on November 11, 2020.[5][6] Cruz was the first Latino to represent Oklahoma House District 89.[7]
While in the Oklahoma House, Cruz served on the House Criminal Judiciary Committee and the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.[2]
He also served as a member of the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Judiciary and Public Safety and was a founding member the bipartisan, bicameral Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus in 2021.[8]
He resigned on January 21, 2022 after "acting inappropriately" at a New Year's Eve Party.[7]
After Cruz's resignation, a lobbyist came forward alleging he assaulted her in her apartment at a New Year's Eve party and filed a police reporting alleging similar incidents with two other women.[9]
House Minority Leader Emily Virgin and Caucus Chair Cyndi Munson both advised Cruz to resign on January 16, 2022 after learning of the allegations.[10]
