Sen. Ted Cruz said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become the “single most powerful Democrat in the country,” arguing that the growing influence of socialist and progressive activists is making Democratic lawmakers increasingly reluctant to cooperate with Republicans on issues such as energy permitting reform. Cruz made the remarks Thursday at an energy affordability and permitting reform summit in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by the Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures.
“That dynamic is dangerous right now because they are terrified of the extreme left. Finding a middle ground on ideological issues right now is … the prospects for success, particularly between now and election day, are not high,” Cruz said at an energy summit hosted by Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures on Thursday.
“Schumer is truly terrified right now,” he added, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Cruz argued that the success of progressive candidates during the 2026 election cycle is affecting how establishment Democrats, particularly those already serving in Congress, approach legislation as the November midterm elections draw closer.
“They’re in the middle of a revolution,” Cruz said. “Their problem is that they’re very driven by their interest groups. They’re captured by their activists.”
Cruz delivered his comments during a summit focused largely on energy costs and changes to the federal permitting system. The Club for Growth, which advocates for lower taxes and limited government, co-hosted the gathering with Arnold Ventures, bringing together administration officials, lawmakers and industry figures to discuss ways of accelerating domestic energy projects.
While Republicans and Democrats remain divided over how extensively federal regulations should be changed, permitting reform has attracted some bipartisan interest. Participants at the summit argued that streamlining the approval process could make it easier to develop new American energy infrastructure.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright pointed to nuclear power as one area in which regulatory obstacles have, in his view, sharply limited development despite growing interest in the technology across party lines.
“We have built three new nuclear reactors in like the last 40 years. It went quickly from: we didn’t even know about the technology, to 20% of US electric generation from nuclear reactors,” Wright said.
“We created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission … in the name of safety, no malintent. But since that creation, we’ve built almost no reactors in the United States since. If it’s so uncertain and so long to permit something, it’s just not worth investing in. That’s awful! Nuclear is just an awesome energy technology.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, another Republican who participated in the event, said much of the debate over permitting reform has moved beyond broader political disagreements and into questions about how legislation could actually be implemented.
“There’s a lot of conversations going on not about who’s going to fight with whom or who is going to take credit for it, but rather what is the mechanics of getting it done,” Moreno said at the Club for Growth event.
“When it comes to permitting reform, if we can actually pull this off, Scott, what does it mean? It means lower energy prices for all Americans, us taking better care of our environment, being good stewards for the next generation. Those are worthy goals that should unite all of us, and I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” Moreno said, speaking to conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, a moderator at the event.
Despite the optimism expressed by Moreno and several other participants, Cruz said he believes the political influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing could make bipartisan agreements considerably more difficult.
“It is not the case that every Senate Democrat is a Marxist or Islamist. What is the case is that every Senate Democrat is terrified of the Marxists and Islamists. Because that’s where the energy is in their party, that’s where the power is, that’s where the money is; it’s where the young people are. I think Mamdani is the single most powerful Democrat in the country,” Cruz said, referring to the socialist mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral election in 2025. Since then, several candidates associated with or supported by the Democratic Socialists of America have scored victories in Democratic primaries, including challengers who defeated longtime incumbents.
Among those candidates is Darializa Avila Chevalier, who defeated longtime New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District. In Colorado, Melat Kiros defeated Rep. Diana DeGette, who had served in Congress for nearly three decades. Cruz pointed to such races as evidence for his contention that progressive challengers are exerting increasing pressure on Democratic incumbents.
Against that backdrop, Cruz argued that Democratic lawmakers have fewer political incentives to break with the party’s progressive activists, even in policy areas where bipartisan compromise might otherwise be possible.
Cruz said he also sees little willingness among Democratic leaders to challenge that trend.
“Look, Schumer is known for a lot of things but acts of principle and courage are not among them,” Cruz said.
{Matzav.com}
