I know Beto O’Rourke gave him a run for his money in the midterms, but Cruz’s greatest opponent has always been his own face. The pursed lips, the dead eyes, a chin that constantly looks like it was just rid of melted popsicle juice. That’s all changed now, because there are whiskers covering half of it.

Suddenly, Cruz, a man the Internet believes is the Zodiac killer, looks human again. Usually, you hate this guy the moment you lay eyes on him. Now—and again I hate to say it—he kind of looks like a dude I’d love to share an ice cold Miller Genuine Draft with. Can a beard change any man’s look for the better? In the past I’d have said no. But if a couple weeks off the razor inspires this sort of masochistic appreciation, I can’t see why it wouldn’t work for anyone else…