'Extinction-level event,' 'blue tsunami': How Republicans eyeing 2028 are taking midterm losses

Cruz calls result a repudiation

Sen. Ted Cruz described the Republican showing as a “Watergate-level repudiation” of the party. In Texas, Republicans lost every statewide election, leaving Democrats in power. “Texas is blue,” Cruz said, adding that he was the state’s only remaining statewide elected Republican. He also said voters’ concerns about the cost of living had been dismissed by politicians focused on favorable economic indicators. On his podcast, Cruz said Republicans needed to rebuild by backing policies that directly benefit the constituents they lost.

DeSantis urges a long rebuild

Ron DeSantis said calling the results a wave did not fully capture their scale. He compared the outcome to a meteor strike across blue and red states, while saying Florida had held the line.

DeSantis called the election close to an “extinction-level event” for Republicans and said recovery would take more than one election cycle. He pointed to Florida as an example of building a coalition that can endure difficult periods.

Asked about a possible 2028 run, DeSantis said he was focused on completing his term as governor. He said he would discuss his future after leaving office at the beginning of 2027.

Vance and Trump assess losses

Vice President JD Vance said in a social media post that the war in Iran was the main reason Republicans lost. However, ABC News’ Voter Poll of House voters found that cost of living and other factors drew more attention nationally than the Iran war.

Vance said immigration enforcement may also have contributed and that he was open to changing it. He warned that establishment politicians would push voters toward amnesty for migrants.

President Donald Trump accepted no responsibility for the party’s poor performance, saying Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot. He also said he was “a little bit surprised” by Democrats’ big midterm win.