Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told an energy summit Thursday that fear of a rising progressive movement within the Democratic Party is paralyzing potential bipartisan collaboration on permitting reform, an area where lawmakers from both parties have expressed interest in finding common ground.

The senator spoke at an event hosted by the Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures, where he argued that Senate Democrats are too frightened of left-wing activists to negotiate with Republicans on issues like cutting regulatory red tape for energy projects.

"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 the summit.

What the Right Is Saying

Cruz argued that progressive candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America have gained significant momentum, citing recent primary victories including Darializa Avila Chevalier's win over incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York and Melat Kiros defeating 30-year Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado.

"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."

The senator named NYC Mayor Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, as "the single most powerful Democrat in the country" and argued this reflects where Democratic Party energy, money, and young voters are concentrated.

Conservative commentators at the event echoed Cruz's concerns about progressive influence. Speaking to conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said that while permitting reform discussions focus on practical mechanics rather than partisan battles, finding willing negotiating partners remains challenging.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive Democrats have pushed back against characterizations that their party is controlled by far-left elements. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has declined to directly address whether the Democratic Socialists of America belongs in the Democratic Party, suggesting a cautious approach rather than outright rejection of progressive members.

Moderate Democrats point to bipartisan energy legislation as evidence that cooperation remains possible despite ideological differences. Supporters of permitting reform from both parties argue that streamlining environmental reviews benefits all Americans through lower energy costs and faster infrastructure development.

Some Democratic strategists note that the 2026 midterm landscape is still developing and that voters will ultimately decide the balance of power based on kitchen-table issues rather than primary election outcomes involving socialist candidates.

What the Numbers Show

The DSA has backed multiple successful primary challenges in 2026, including victories over established Democratic incumbents in New York and Colorado, according to election results cited by Cruz at the summit.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright highlighted nuclear energy statistics during his remarks: the U.S. built only three new nuclear reactors in approximately the last 40 years, while nuclear currently provides about 20% of American electric generation since its peak adoption period.

Wright noted that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, created to ensure safety, has contributed to a permitting environment where regulatory uncertainty has discouraged private investment in new reactor construction for decades.

Bipartisan support for permitting reform has included provisions in previous legislative packages addressing environmental review timelines and regulatory coordination across federal agencies.

The Bottom Line

The Cruz remarks highlight an ongoing tension within Congress about whether partisan primaries and ideological purity tests are making bipartisan dealmaking increasingly difficult before the 2026 midterm elections.

Lawmakers from both parties have publicly expressed interest in permitting reform as a rare area of potential cooperation, citing benefits for energy costs, environmental outcomes, and infrastructure development. Whether that common ground translates into actual legislation depends partly on whether moderate members feel empowered to negotiate without facing primary challenges.

What to watch: Any bipartisan permitting bills introduced before the November midterm elections and how party leadership in both chambers responds to members seeking middle-ground agreements.