Cruz: Texans will be hurt as Democrats seize control of Texas
The senator warned of business impacts after Talarico and Hinojosa won key statewide races.
By Priya Marino ·
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa defeated their Republican opponents on Tuesday, shifting control of the state’s highest offices to the Democratic Party. Senator Ted Cruz, the only remaining statewide Republican elected official, issued a warning on Wednesday regarding the economic implications of the change in power.
In a social media post, Cruz stated that Texans would be hurt by the election results. He argued that Democratic policies would make Texas less attractive for starting or growing small businesses. Cruz specifically pointed to potential restrictions on artificial intelligence investment, suggesting the state could become more like California if those measures were implemented.
Talarico won the U.S. Senate seat by more than 12 percentage points, according to Decision Desk HQ. Hinojosa captured the governor’s mansion, ending decades of Republican dominance in those positions. President Donald Trump and other party leaders had supported Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Senate race, but the outcome marked a distinct upset for the GOP.
Cruz described the state as blue, noting the difficulty of uttering that phrase. He confirmed that he spoke with Talarico on Tuesday evening to congratulate him on his victory. Cruz characterized the conversation as pleasant and expressed a desire to work with the incoming senator for the benefit of the state.
The Republican senator outlined a two-year strategy for his party under the new Democratic control of both chambers of Congress. He said the party must fight the madness and rebuild. Cruz expressed optimism about the future, stating he was filled with hope that Texas would return to Republican control.
Outgoing Senator John Cornyn also addressed the losses in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday. Cornyn wrote that the defeat was foreseen and cited shortcomings in candidate appeals and the administration's delivery on campaign promises. Both Cornyn and Cruz maintained that the GOP would regain the seats lost in this cycle.
