Ted Cruz announces for president, students in front row sport "Stand With Rand" shirts

Sen. Ted Cruz is announcing for president this morning at Virginia's Liberty University. That makes him the first major candidate to announce for 2016 — beating his colleague Rand Paul's scheduled announcement by two weeks. But a few Liberty University students got some revenge for Paul:

To the kids wearing #StandWithRand t-shirts at the Cruz presidential candidate announcement, you are awesome. pic.twitter.com/4bVqyzwsvJ

— John Maniscalco (@JohnRManiscalco) March 23, 2015

Welcome to 2016, everyone.

Related: 11 things to know about Ted Cruz.

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