Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) went on his podcast for the first time after the “blue tsunami” that has Republicans reeling from sweeping losses across the country, detailing what he thinks went wrong.
After remaining silent Tuesday night, Sen. Cruz posted a lengthy assessment of the election on X, touching on many of the same points in his podcast, including the party’s failure to address affordability. Although acknowledging the scale of the defeat, the Texas senator said he remains optimistic about the party’s future.
“I am filled with hope and optimism,” Sen. Cruz said. “Texas will be red again.”
Sen. Cruz spent much of the last few months traveling the country campaigning for Republican candidates, including Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R-TX) and GOP candidates in states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, Alaska, Michigan and Kansas. Nearly all of them lost.
Although Democrat James Talarico (D-TX) won with 55.1% of the vote, Sen. Cruz said he stands firm in the belief that he does not align with Texas. Throughout Talarico’s campaign, Sen. Cruz and other Republicans dubbed him a “radical socialist,” criticizing his progressive positions and past comments on religion and gender.
“We have not suddenly become a bunch of tofu-eating, gun-banning, tutu-wearing pinko commie liberals,” Sen. Cruz said. “That ain’t us. Texas is still Texas.”
Sen. Cruz said the Republican Party must also make changes after this historic election defeat, including returning to being “free-market conservatives.” He added that he believes his party missed the mark on the biggest issue voters seemed to care about: affordability.
“Republican politicians seemed like they didn’t understand, or they didn’t care,” Sen. Cruz said.
With Democrats sweeping statewide races across the Lone Star State, Sen. Cruz will be the only statewide-elected Republican in Texas.
“That’s not something I ever thought I would say,” he said.
