Verdict with Ted Cruz: Election Day – Three Victories, One Loss, and Cruz’s Filibuster Record Broken
Release Date: April 2, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, hosted by Premiere Networks, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into the critical outcomes of Election Day, highlighting three significant Republican victories and one notable defeat. Additionally, the episode examines the recent breaking of Cruz’s filibuster record by Senator Cory Booker, analyzing the implications and contrasting motivations behind their respective efforts on the Senate floor.

Election Day Results: Three Republican Wins

Timestamp: [11:34]

Senator Ted Cruz begins by outlining the successful outcomes of the recent elections in Florida. Despite heavy Democratic spending aimed at flipping the seats, the Republicans secured both contested House seats with substantial margins. Cruz states:

“Both of those were sizable victories. If you look at Randy Fine, he was literally outspent 10 to 1. I mean, it was massive. I've been in races where I've been outspent 3 to 1, but 10 to 1 is a massive funding disadvantage. And so that victory is really significant.”
[11:34]

The victories in Florida not only reinforce Republican control but also provide President Donald Trump’s administration with the much-needed leverage to advance key agenda items without the immediate pressure of an overwhelmingly narrow House majority.

Voter ID Law in Wisconsin: A Constitutional Win

Timestamp: [15:55]

Shifting focus to Wisconsin, Cruz discusses the successful passage of a voter ID requirement amendment, which cements the existing law into the state’s constitution. He emphasizes the importance of this victory for election integrity, especially in a swing state like Wisconsin:

“Wisconsin, the voters had on the ballot, should photo ID for voting be in the Wisconsin Constitution? And that won overwhelmingly. The vote was 63.2% to 36.8%. So it was a massive, almost a 30 point victory. That's great. That is a terrific victory for election integrity.”
[15:55]

Cruz contrasts this with other states like California, where measures have been taken to make photo ID optional, implicitly encouraging voter fraud. By enshrining voter ID laws into the state constitution, Wisconsin sets a precedent that makes it significantly harder for future legislations to alter these requirements.

Judicial Race Loss in Wisconsin: A Costly Defeat

Timestamp: [24:16]

Despite the victories, the Republicans faced a setback in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Cruz provides a detailed account of the overwhelmingly expensive campaign, highlighting the extensive financial resources poured into the race:

“More than $53.3 million was spent by Schimmel and his backers, including 12.2 million from Elon Musk's America PAC. And Crawford's campaign and those backing her have spent an estimated $45.1 million. So all told, $98 million.”
[22:09]

The loss of this judicial seat to a liberal Democrat, Susan Crawford, has significant implications for future rulings, including potential redistricting battles that could influence the political landscape in Wisconsin for years to come. Cruz underscores the high stakes involved:

“That's a massive amount of money. And listen, this is an unfortunate loss. There's gonna be some bad rulings in Wisconsin, including potentially redistricting rulings that have political consequences in Wisconsin.”
[22:09]

Cory Booker Breaks Cruz’s Filibuster Record

Timestamp: [26:34]

Transitioning to Senate dynamics, the episode addresses Senator Cory Booker’s recent achievement in surpassing Cruz’s long-standing filibuster record. Booker set a new record with a 25-hour and four-minute speech on the Senate floor, eclipsing Cruz’s 21-hour and 19-minute filibuster from 2013.

Cruz reflects on his own filibuster:

“When I did the filibuster in 2013, I was a brand new baby freshman. And it was the theme of the filibuster was make D.C. listen. And I will tell you, it had a significant effect.”
[07:48]

He contrasts this with Booker’s motivations, suggesting that Booker’s efforts are more politically driven without the same substantive impact:

“What was Cory Booker talking about? ... I hate Donald Trump. I'm a Democrat. Trump bad. Orange man bad. I'm mad at the voters. Why did the voters elect Trump? Why did the voters elect a Republican Senate? Gosh, I'm mad at the voters.”
[40:37]

Cruz argues that his own filibuster had tangible political repercussions, contributing to the Republican wave in the 2014 midterms, whereas Booker’s filibuster lacks a clear agenda or long-term impact.

Insights and Analysis

Throughout the discussion, Cruz emphasizes the strategic importance of the Republican victories in Florida and Wisconsin, framing them as essential for maintaining and advancing conservative policies. He also critiques the Democratic approach to elections, particularly the massive spending in efforts that often do not yield proportional results.

Regarding filibusters, Cruz provides a historical context by comparing his own experience in 2013 against Booker’s, highlighting the differences in objectives and outcomes. He suggests that Booker’s filibuster, while record-breaking, does not carry the same weight in terms of legislative progress or political influence.

Cruz also touches on the implications of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, indicating that the loss could have long-term effects on political and electoral processes within the state, further solidifying his stance on the importance of judicial appointments aligned with conservative values.

Notable Quotes

1. Ted Cruz on Election Victories:

   “Both of those were sizable victories. If you look at Randy Fine, he was literally outspent 10 to 1. I mean, it was massive. I've been in races where I've been outspent 3 to 1, but 10 to 1 is a massive funding disadvantage. And so that victory is really significant.”
   [11:34]

2. Cruz on Voter ID Law:

   “Wisconsin, the voters had on the ballot, should photo ID for voting be in the Wisconsin Constitution? And that won overwhelmingly. The vote was 63.2% to 36.8%. So it was a massive, almost a 30 point victory. That's great. That is a terrific victory for election integrity.”
   [15:55]

3. Cruz on Filibuster Comparison:

   “What was Cory Booker talking about? ... I hate Donald Trump. I'm a Democrat. Trump bad. Orange man bad. I'm mad at the voters.”
   [40:37]

4. Cruz on His Own Filibuster Impact:

   “When I did the filibuster in 2013, I was a brand new baby freshman. And it was the theme of the filibuster was make D.C. listen. And I will tell you, it had a significant effect.”
   [07:48]

Conclusions

In this episode, Verdict with Ted Cruz presents a comprehensive analysis of the recent Election Day results, celebrating key Republican victories that reinforce conservative control in pivotal states like Florida and Wisconsin. The discussion underscores the strategic importance of these wins in advancing political agendas and maintaining legislative momentum.

Conversely, the episode also addresses the significant loss in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, highlighting the substantial financial investments by both parties and the long-term implications of this judicial shift.

Finally, the breaking of Cruz’s filibuster record by Cory Booker serves as a focal point for contrasting legislative strategies and their respective impacts. Cruz’s reflection on his own filibuster underscores his belief in its effectiveness in shaping political outcomes, while Booker’s record-breaking effort is critiqued for lacking a similar substantive agenda.

Overall, the episode provides listeners with a detailed and engaging exploration of the current political landscape, offering insights into the dynamics of electoral victories and legislative maneuvers that will shape the future of American politics.