Republican Senator Ted Cruz has sharply criticised his party’s performance in the US midterm elections, describing its loss of Congress as a historic rejection by voters.
Speaking on his Verdict podcast, the Texas senator said Republicans had suffered an “ass-kicking” and compared the defeat to the political fallout from the Watergate scandal.
“It was not simply a bad 2006 midterm election, it was a Watergate-level repudiation,” Cruz said.
He argued that low voter turnout was not responsible for the losses, saying Republican and independent voters had actively rejected GOP candidates.
“Instead, our voters Republicans, Libertarians, Independents, showed up and voted and rejected our candidates, voting Democrat,” Cruz said.
The senator blamed growing frustration over the cost of living, arguing that Republican politicians had failed to address everyday financial pressures.
“Food is too high, gas is too high, diesel is too high, insurance is too high, life is too high,” he said.
“Too many Republican politicians seem like they didn’t understand or they didn’t care.”
Cruz urged Republicans to rethink their economic policies and focus on improving working Americans’ lives.
He also revealed that he had called Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico to congratulate him on his historic victory in Texas.
Cruz faces re-election in 2030 and is considered a possible Republican presidential contender.
