Photo: Grant Baldwin / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has described the Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections as a "Watergate-level repudiation," following a sweeping Democratic victory that saw them take control of both the House and Senate and win statewide races in Texas. Cruz, who is now the only Republican holding statewide office in Texas, attributed the losses to several factors, including President Trump's tariffs, the ongoing war with Iran, and rising costs, which he said Republicans failed to address.
In a recent episode of his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, Cruz said, "2026 was not simply a blue wave. It was a blue tsunami," as reported by Bloomberg. He emphasized that the Republican party needs to focus on economic policies that resonate with working-class voters and acknowledged the loss of support among Hispanic, young, and blue-collar voters.
Cruz also mentioned that he had congratulated Democrat James Talarico on his victory over Republican Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race, marking the first time in over 30 years that a Democrat will hold a Senate seat in Texas. "Texas is blue. That is a hard sentence to utter," Cruz said, adding that he looks forward to working with Democrats when they are "reasonable," according to The Washington Post.
Despite the setbacks, Cruz expressed optimism about the future, predicting that Democrats will overreach, providing an opportunity for Republicans to regain control. He vowed to defend Texas from policies he opposes, such as opening the border or raising taxes, and emphasized the need to rebuild the party as a working-class entity.