By Sohaib Shams
Republican leaders and potential 2028 presidential candidates offered stark assessments Wednesday of the party's midterm election defeats, which saw Democrats regain control of both the House and Senate while winning Senate races in traditionally Republican strongholds.
Cruz calls results 'Watergate-level repudiation'
Sen. Ted Cruz described the outcome as a "blue tsunami" and a "Watergate-level repudiation" of the Republican Party during his podcast. The Texas senator noted that Republicans lost every statewide race in his home state, leaving him as the only remaining statewide elected Republican in Texas. Cruz attributed the losses to the party's dismissal of voters' concerns about the rising cost of living, saying macroeconomic data did not reflect the full story for many Americans.
DeSantis likens losses to 'meteor strike'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis characterized the results as "the political equivalent of a meteor strike" and "close to an extinction-level event" for Republicans across much of the country. He pointed to Florida as a model for rebuilding, arguing the state demonstrated how to build a coalition that can withstand difficult electoral cycles. DeSantis declined to discuss a potential 2028 run, saying he remains focused on his gubernatorial term ending in early 2027.
Vance blames Iran war; Trump rejects responsibility
Vice President JD Vance asserted in a social media post that the war in Iran was the primary reason for Republican losses, citing the president's own acknowledgment. However, ABC News voter polling found cost of living ranked higher than the Iran war among House voters nationally. Former President Donald Trump denied responsibility, maintaining the party would have won had he been on the ballot, but acknowledged an inability to transfer his rally enthusiasm to down-ballot candidates.
