Well, the Stryper hypothesis is intriguing. And it makes sense. A little. If alcohol is involved.
Ted Cruz Revealed as Stryper Singer
[As a child of the '80s, Stryper is one flashback I can say was better off forgotten]
But wait! There's another rock'n'roll angle!
Horrifying yearbook photo depicts a young Ted Cruz as biblical mime
[As an aside... 'biblical mime'? WTF?]
Anyway, the photo:
Either young Rafael was disturbingly trying for the Michael Myers look...
...or he was a big fan of Lou Reed!
[Hopefully not the latter! Otherwise, I may never be able to enjoy a Velvet Underground song again!]