Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, the Texas senator predicted Schumer would be unable to survive another Democratic primary in New York.
“Chuck Schumer, I believe, can never again win a Democrat primary in New York. I think he will not even run for reelection,” he said.
Recent polling has added fuel to that discussion.
A University of New Hampshire survey released this week found Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading the early field for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination with 22 percent support among likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg followed closely behind with 21 percent, while former Vice President Kamala Harris registered just 5 percent.
Cruz believes those numbers point toward Ocasio-Cortez pursuing the White House rather than remaining focused on New York politics.
That, he argued, would leave New York’s Senate seat open for another rising progressive figure.
Rather than predicting Ocasio-Cortez would succeed Schumer, Cruz pointed to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as the politician he believes is best positioned to claim the Senate seat.
“My prediction is comrade Mamdani will be the next Democrat senator from New York,” Cruz told Hannity. “I think Mamdani is the single most powerful Democrat in the country.”
Mamdani has quickly become one of the Democratic Party’s most closely watched progressive leaders. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he has championed policies including government-backed rent controls, publicly operated grocery stores, and fare-free public buses.
His political rise has been unusually rapid.
After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2018, Mamdani climbed through New York politics at remarkable speed before winning the mayor’s office in the nation’s largest city. His victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, despite Cuomo’s establishment backing and significant financial support, surprised many political observers.
Since taking office, Mamdani has continued expanding his influence within Democratic politics.
He endorsed several challengers in Democratic House primaries, and each of those candidates emerged victorious, further boosting his reputation among progressive activists. Those victories prompted many observers to describe him as an increasingly influential power broker inside the party.
For Cruz, that growing influence represents more than simply a changing political landscape.
He warned that the Democratic Party’s embrace of democratic socialist candidates reflects what he views as a deeper ideological transformation that could have significant national consequences.
“I want to say for the record, I’m not celebrating,” Cruz told Hannity. “I think this is bad for the country. I think this is unhealthy.”
Cruz added that he believes America benefits when both major political parties operate within what he considers a mainstream ideological framework.
“I want to see two normal parties that are not filled with crazy people who can actually do something reasonable and who actually love the country,” Cruz said. “If a Democrat likes some higher taxes and higher regulations, I don’t like that. But could we start with the premise that you love America?”
The senator then delivered an even sharper criticism of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.
“These communist radicals, they not only don’t love America,” he said. “They hate America. If you’re a small business owner, they hate you. If you’re a Christian, they hate you. If you’re a Jew, they hate you.”
Meanwhile, additional polling has intensified speculation surrounding Schumer’s future. Data for Progress polling reportedly found the longtime senator trailing Ocasio-Cortez by 19 points among Democratic primary voters in New York, suggesting progressive dissatisfaction may be translating into measurable political vulnerability.
Schumer’s support for a bipartisan spending measure earlier this year also generated fierce criticism from activists on the left, adding to questions about whether the longtime Democratic leader could successfully defend his seat should he seek another term.
For conservatives, Cruz argues these developments represent more than a leadership shuffle inside one political party. He contends they reflect an expanding progressive movement that could eventually influence national debates on taxation, border security, gun rights, education, and the broader direction of federal policy if its candidates continue gaining power in Washington.
