Ted Cruz arrives at his office in Washington, D.C., on May 10 after having suspended his presidential campaign. | Getty Pro-Cruz super PAC is still going

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz dropped out of the presidential race more than a month ago, yet a super PAC supporting him remains active and is paying top aides who are looking to make a splash at the Republican National Convention.

Trusted Leadership PAC, a pro-Cruz super PAC, is currently paying around a half-dozen staffers who served as senior aides on Cruz’s presidential campaign, a source close to the group confirmed.


Among those receiving paychecks: former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who has been overseeing Cruz’s delegate strategy, political adviser David Sawyer, and Texas state director Tyler Norris.

Since Cruz dropped out, the group says, its activities have been focused on the convention. Among their top objectives is passing a favorable set of rules that will govern the 2020 primary calendar, when the Texas senator may wage a second presidential run.

It is also looking to influence the platform committee to reflect Cruz's conservative policies. Last week, one of the super PAC’s staffers, Christian Andzel, went to a meeting of the Platform Project, a coalition of nearly two dozen right-leaning groups seeking to establish a conservative platform. The meeting was also attended by Donald Trump aides Ed Brookover and John Mashburn.

Those involved with Trusted Leadership PAC insist they’re not looking to take the nomination from Donald Trump. Yet word of the super PAC’s continuing activity comes as some in the party, unhappy with Trump, continue to search for ways to derail him at the convention. One popular, if far-fetched idea: altering the rules to allow delegates to cast a “conscience” ballot, thereby unbundling themselves from voting for Trump and throwing the convention into uncertainty.

Mallory Rascher, a spokeswoman for Cuccinelli, told POLITICO that Trusted Leadership PAC remained focused on Cruz's goal of influencing the Republican Party's agenda.

“This is a continuing effort on behalf of the Cruz delegate operation, which Ken has been a part of for some time. At this point, the focus hasn't shifted — apart from Trump and his presumptive nominee role, of course — from what was always a goal at the convention,” Rascher said. “Namely, a commitment to advancing a conservative, grassroots agenda by and through encouraging and organizing Cruz/conservative delegates to play an active and appropriate role in shaping the party platform/rules.”