Houston leaders: Cruz trip 'speaks for itself

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has acknowledged that he travelled to Mexico for a family vacation this week as his home state was paralyzed by a deadly winter storm.

In a statement Thursday, Cruz said he accompanied his family to Mexico on Wednesday after his daughters asked to go on a trip with friends. He said, "Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night."

He said he was in "constant communication" with leaders back home. The statement did little to quell a fierce backlash that comes as Cruz eyes a second presidential run in 2024.

He returned to Houston on Thursday afternoon.

Images of Cruz checking on a Mexico flight went viral hours before his return.

In Houston, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat, offered her reaction to Cruz' trip while handing out palates of water to constituents she serves in her home district.

"I have been present along with my colleagues from the moment I have landed from Washington. I've suffered, I've experienced the bitter cold. I have felt pain. I have felt the emotion of the lives that I've seen that have been lost," Rep. Jackson Lee said.  "I think everybody who is a public servant has to account for themselves. And so I'm going to let all public servants account for themselves."

Houston's mayor said "it's a lot warmer where he was going than here."  Mayor Sylvester Turner added, "My job is to stay here until the situation is resolved. I'm going to let the senator speak for the senator."