Cruz Calls Democratic Midterm Sweep a 'Watergate-Level' Rebuke of Republicans, Blames Costs

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Wednesday on his podcast that Democrats' midterm sweep was a repudiation of Republicans on the scale of Watergate, calling it a blue tsunami and a thorough beating for his party. Cruz, who is not up for re-election until 2030, said voters were angry because Republicans did not do enough to ease their financial pain. He pointed to high food, gas, diesel and insurance costs, tariffs that raised prices, and an Iran war he said dragged on too long. In Texas, Democrats won the governorship, a Senate seat and other statewide offices; Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday. Cruz said he called Democratic Sen.-elect James Talarico to congratulate him and would work with Democrats when they are reasonable.

Right-leaning Newsmax puts the Watergate comparison in its headline and, in the text available, stresses that voters rejected the party over living costs while Cruz criticized President Donald Trump's tariffs. Left-leaning NBC News uses the same line but adds the Iran war, the list of high prices, NBC exit polls showing over 80% of voters worried about necessities, and the Talarico call. Both report that economic pain drove the losses and that tariffs were a factor. Newsweek takes a distinct Texas angle: it notes Cruz's earlier warning that Republicans could lose every statewide office and quotes Rice University's Mark Jones calling him the party's sole visible face in the state.