Republican Senator Compares Midterm Defeat to Watergate

Republicans suffered a catastrophic defeat in this year's midterm elections, with a senior party figure comparing the scale of the loss to Watergate. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, whose own seat was not up for election, said the party lost a Senate seat to Democrats for the first time since 1988. He argued that turnout was not the issue, but rather that Republican, libertarian, and independent voters rejected the party's candidates and voted Democratic instead. Cruz attributed the voter exodus partly to politicians dismissing cost-of-living concerns, citing a widening economic gap where the rich got richer while food and fuel prices soared. He said voters became angry because elected Republicans failed to address their tangible pain.