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Sen. Cruz Promotes Prerak Shah to Chief of Staff and Steve Chartan to Deputy Chief of Staff

David Polyansky announces departure as chief to the private sector, will continue to advise on Cruz re-elect

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today announced the promotion of his chief counsel, Prerak Shah, to chief of staff and his legislative director, Steve Chartan, to deputy chief of staff. Chartan will also maintain his responsibilities as legislative director. Sen. Cruz’s current chief of staff, David Polyansky, is returning to the private sector after the New Year and will maintain his role as a senior adviser to Sen. Cruz’s political apparatus.

“David has been an incredible chief of staff and integral to the important work we’ve done the last 18 months, from passing tax reform through the Senate, to confirming conservative jurists, to helping Texas recover from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. He has set an exceptional standard of leadership and work ethic that my office will continue to emulate moving forward,” Sen. Cruz said. 

Cruz added, “I am thrilled to have both Pre and Steve advancing in their leadership roles in my Senate office. Both have been enormously effective in leading our respective Judiciary and Policy teams, and I know they’ll continue to successfully carry forth our mission to serve the interests of 28 million Texans and promote the conservative values that keep our state and our country strong.”

“It has been an incredible honor and privilege to work for Sen. Cruz first on the presidential campaign trail and most recently as his chief of staff in the United States Senate,” Polyansky said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the job our talented Senate staff has done over the last year and a half in representing 28 million Texans and advancing conservative principles. From helping impacted Texans recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey to leading the charge on efforts to lower the federal tax burden for taxpayers and businesses across the entirety of the Lone Star State, the Senator and all of Team Cruz continue to deliver for Texas. As one of Sen. Cruz's constituents, I look forward to his continued leadership on the issues that matter most to me and my neighbors." 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as chief of staff to Sen. Cruz and continue to help him fight to ensure that the men, women, and children of Texas will have a brighter, safer, and more prosperous future,” Shah said. “This is a critical time in our nation’s history and the Senator has demonstrated time and time again that he has the leadership and resolve to deliver on the changes that the American people have long demanded from their elected leaders.”

“I am honored to be named deputy chief of staff to Sen. Cruz,” Chartan said. “He fights tirelessly, every day, for the 28 million Texans he represents. He has kept the promises he made when he was first elected, and is committed to ensuring Republicans deliver on the historic mandate they were given by the American people last year. I look forward to taking on this new role and helping Sen. Cruz continue to do exactly what he told Texans he would do – fight for them, and defend freedom and the Constitution.”

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