[h=3]By NAFTALI BENDAVID[/h]WASHINGTON—Rafael "Ted" Cruz's come-from-behind victory in Tuesday's Texas Republican primary suggests the Senate is likely to see more members next year whose muscular form of conservatism may give the chamber a more confrontational style.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), a leader of the Senate GOP contingent that identifies with the tea party, and who campaigned with Mr. Cruz, cast him as a kindred spirit. "The big thing about Ted is he's got the courage to actually take a stand," he said.
Getty ImagesRafael 'Ted' Cruz at his victory party in Houston Tuesday night.
Democrats say figures such as Mr. Cruz—and Richard Mourdock, who recently won a GOP Senate primary in Indiana—would make it tougher to reach compromises on the big challenges facing the country, such as cutting the federal deficit.
"[Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell is now going to have potentially a much more tea party-oriented caucus," said Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.), who coordinates the Democratic Senate campaigns. "We have seen the problems that has caused for our ability to govern and find compromise."
Several GOP senators backed by the tea-party movement, including Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, were elected in 2010. These lawmakers argue that, in many cases, Republicans and Democrats have too often struck compromises that lead to more spending.
Mr. Cruz defeated 57% to 43% Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who had started the race as a favorite and was backed by Gov. Rick Perry. He will face Democrat Paul Sadler in November, but given Texas's strong Republican leanings, Mr. Cruz is a heavy favorite.
His style was on display Tuesday night when he served food from Chick-fil-A at his victory party. The restaurant chain's chief executive recently denounced same-sex marriage.
Mr. Cruz struck a confrontational tone during the campaign. "There are too many people running for Senate who just want to join the club," he said on May 6. "We need to kick in the doors of the club, rip down the shades, and auction off the silverware."
Getty ImagesTea-party backed Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah at a news conference in March.
Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), who coordinates the GOP Senate campaigns, said Mr. Cruz tapped into voters' anger at Congress, but noted that he had never served in a legislative body.
"I think it's purely speculation as to how Ted's going to make that transition," Mr. Cornyn said. "I have no doubt about Ted's willingness or ability to work together toward the good of the country and the good of Texas."
In addition to Messrs. Cruz and Mourdock, of Indiana, Republican primaries in Arizona and Missouri could produce tea party-style candidates. All those states lean Republican, so the GOP candidates have a good chance to win.
Despite analysts' predictions, the tea party-oriented senators have so far done little to tie up the Senate or force votes on favored bills. For example, Mr. Paul threatened action to deny U.S. aid to Pakistan until it released Dr. Shakil Afridi, who reportedly helped Americans capture Osama bin Laden. But Dr. Afridi's appellate hearing was delayed, and Mr. Paul's office now says he is awaiting its outcome before forcing a vote on his legislation. In June 2011, Mr. Johnson said he would block Senate adjournment until Democrats passed a budget, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid found a procedural way around the move.
Still, Democrats say conservatives' harder line has helped turn the Senate into two warring camps. Mr. Reid's office says he's faced 266 Republican filibusters.
Republicans see the Senate landscape very differently. They mount filibusters, they say, only because Mr. Reid prevents them from offering amendments or having input on legislation.
Sen. Mike Johanns (R., Neb.), who has worked with Democrats on deficit-cutting initiatives, said the Senate's problem isn't its purists but Mr. Reid's policy of shutting out Republicans. "I think we'd all benefit from a little more effort to try to bridge common ground," he said. "But right now the Senate is not functioning very well."
For now, Republicans of all stripes are generally unified in opposition to Democratic initiatives. But Democrats say the tea-party-oriented senators would present a bigger challenge to Republican leaders if the GOP recaptured a majority in the Senate, because the rebels could then hold up Republican legislation and make demands.
Ben Barnes, a former Democratic lieutenant governor in Texas, noted that Mr. Cruz would replace Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is seen as low-key and collegial. Ms. Hutchison is "a conservative Republican, but she had friends among Democrats, which allowed her to be effective," Mr. Barnes said. "If Mr. Cruz has a take-no-prisoners attitude, it will be difficult for Texas."
—Nathan Koppel contributed to this article.Write to Naftali Bendavid at [email protected]
Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), a leader of the Senate GOP contingent that identifies with the tea party, and who campaigned with Mr. Cruz, cast him as a kindred spirit. "The big thing about Ted is he's got the courage to actually take a stand," he said.
Getty ImagesRafael 'Ted' Cruz at his victory party in Houston Tuesday night.
Democrats say figures such as Mr. Cruz—and Richard Mourdock, who recently won a GOP Senate primary in Indiana—would make it tougher to reach compromises on the big challenges facing the country, such as cutting the federal deficit.
"[Senate Minority Leader] Mitch McConnell is now going to have potentially a much more tea party-oriented caucus," said Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.), who coordinates the Democratic Senate campaigns. "We have seen the problems that has caused for our ability to govern and find compromise."
Several GOP senators backed by the tea-party movement, including Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, were elected in 2010. These lawmakers argue that, in many cases, Republicans and Democrats have too often struck compromises that lead to more spending.
Mr. Cruz defeated 57% to 43% Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who had started the race as a favorite and was backed by Gov. Rick Perry. He will face Democrat Paul Sadler in November, but given Texas's strong Republican leanings, Mr. Cruz is a heavy favorite.
His style was on display Tuesday night when he served food from Chick-fil-A at his victory party. The restaurant chain's chief executive recently denounced same-sex marriage.
Mr. Cruz struck a confrontational tone during the campaign. "There are too many people running for Senate who just want to join the club," he said on May 6. "We need to kick in the doors of the club, rip down the shades, and auction off the silverware."
Getty ImagesTea-party backed Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Mike Lee of Utah at a news conference in March.
Sen. John Cornyn (R., Texas), who coordinates the GOP Senate campaigns, said Mr. Cruz tapped into voters' anger at Congress, but noted that he had never served in a legislative body.
"I think it's purely speculation as to how Ted's going to make that transition," Mr. Cornyn said. "I have no doubt about Ted's willingness or ability to work together toward the good of the country and the good of Texas."
In addition to Messrs. Cruz and Mourdock, of Indiana, Republican primaries in Arizona and Missouri could produce tea party-style candidates. All those states lean Republican, so the GOP candidates have a good chance to win.
Despite analysts' predictions, the tea party-oriented senators have so far done little to tie up the Senate or force votes on favored bills. For example, Mr. Paul threatened action to deny U.S. aid to Pakistan until it released Dr. Shakil Afridi, who reportedly helped Americans capture Osama bin Laden. But Dr. Afridi's appellate hearing was delayed, and Mr. Paul's office now says he is awaiting its outcome before forcing a vote on his legislation. In June 2011, Mr. Johnson said he would block Senate adjournment until Democrats passed a budget, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid found a procedural way around the move.
Still, Democrats say conservatives' harder line has helped turn the Senate into two warring camps. Mr. Reid's office says he's faced 266 Republican filibusters.
Republicans see the Senate landscape very differently. They mount filibusters, they say, only because Mr. Reid prevents them from offering amendments or having input on legislation.
Sen. Mike Johanns (R., Neb.), who has worked with Democrats on deficit-cutting initiatives, said the Senate's problem isn't its purists but Mr. Reid's policy of shutting out Republicans. "I think we'd all benefit from a little more effort to try to bridge common ground," he said. "But right now the Senate is not functioning very well."
For now, Republicans of all stripes are generally unified in opposition to Democratic initiatives. But Democrats say the tea-party-oriented senators would present a bigger challenge to Republican leaders if the GOP recaptured a majority in the Senate, because the rebels could then hold up Republican legislation and make demands.
Ben Barnes, a former Democratic lieutenant governor in Texas, noted that Mr. Cruz would replace Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is seen as low-key and collegial. Ms. Hutchison is "a conservative Republican, but she had friends among Democrats, which allowed her to be effective," Mr. Barnes said. "If Mr. Cruz has a take-no-prisoners attitude, it will be difficult for Texas."
—Nathan Koppel contributed to this article.Write to Naftali Bendavid at [email protected]