On radio this morning, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) joined TheBlaze Radio Network’s Chris Salcedo to discuss the state of politics in Washington, D.C. From the Republican victory in Florida’s special election yesterday to the problem with career politicians in both parties, Sen. Cruz explained why Democrats are running scared and why he is actually optimistic about the future.

Despite Congresswoman Debbie Wassermann Schultz’s (D-FL) assurance that Democrats will be able to proudly campaign on a platform that includes Obamacare, the results of Florida’s special election yesterday proved the President’s healthcare law may be more of a hindrance than anticipated. Republican David Jolly won the hard-fought congressional election to replace the late Rep. Bill Young (R-FL). Voters in the ‘swing’ district were flooded with ads, phone calls, and mailings about Obamacare, and the Republicans ultimately came out on top. Chris asked Sen. Cruz if the outcome is a sign of things to come.

“I mean this was a race the Democrats repeatedly described as a ‘must-win’ race. Over $12 million was dumped into this one congressional race. It was a full-on battle. They had Bill Clinton involved, and… they had a very strong Democratic candidate. Nonetheless, Republicans won,” Sen. Cruz explained. “And the central issue in the race was the disaster that is Obamacare. And that's going to be the central issue I think in just about every race across the country in November. And I think the millions of people who are hurting because of the train wreck that is Obamacare is going to lead to Democrats losing control of the senate in November and Harry Reid being retired as majority leader.”

There is an obvious divide in the Republican Party between the establishment and the more conservative wing. While it is clear the Democratic Party is completely out of touch with the American people, Chris feared the leadership of the Republican Party is equally devoid of reality.

“What when I see a deficiency – almost universally on the Democrat side of the aisle, but it's crept into the GOP side,” Chris said. “It's not about doing what's right for the American people. It's about keeping my power, keeping my authority, keeping my little fiefdom. That seems to be the priority of a majority of law enforcement in DC.”

“I wish I could disagree with you, but I can't. Washington is broken. Career politicians are not listening to the American people, and you hear that from Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, over and over. They say these people aren't listening. They aren't focused on my priorities,” Sen. Cruz agreed. “Instead, they're just trying to hold on to power. You know, a lot of Republicans – the D.C. consultant class – they say, ‘Well, the way you win elections is you put your head down. You don't rock the boat. You don't stand for anything. You just kind of do nothing, and that's how you win… Every time Republicans have done that, we get clobbered.”

Ultimately, Sen. Cruz cannot help but be optimistic about the future because the American people are waking up and realizing the Washington elite cannot and will not solve the problem.

“The Washington establishment is scared. They're scared of the grassroots. They're scared of the people who are rising up and who are holding elected officials accountable,” Sen. Cruz said. “And the reason, Chris, that I am so optimistic, so hopeful for turning this country around is that I think all over the nation, people are waking up. They're waking up. They're getting energized. They're realizing we can't keep going down this road.”

“There is an urgency right now to politics… And that urgency is causing people to rise up and demand of elected officials stop the madness, stop bankrupting this country, stop taking away our constitutional rights,” he concluded. “Let's get back to free market principles and our constitutional liberties. Let's bring back economic growth and job. Let's bring back the principles that made America strong. I think that's the direction we're going. But sadly, a lot of the Washington establishment doesn't get it. And what little they do get terrifies them.”