Virginia Senator Louise Lucas Lashes Out at Ted Cruz on Twitter

Cruz calls out Lucas for abuse of power and failing her district, sparking angry response from the Democrat senator.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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In a series of tweets, Texas Senator Ted Cruz criticized Virginia Democrat Senator Louise Lucas for an alleged abuse of power and failure to address issues in her district. Lucas responded aggressively, claiming Cruz started it and that she speaks the language of "haters." Cruz's comments highlighted concerns about redistricting in Virginia that he says unfairly favors Democrats.

Why it matters

The exchange between Cruz and Lucas underscores the partisan tensions and accusations of gerrymandering that have surrounded redistricting efforts in Virginia. It also shines a light on Lucas' combative leadership style and the challenges facing her district, which has high poverty and violent crime rates.

The details

In his tweets, Cruz accused Virginia Democrats of a "brazen abuse of power & an insult to democracy" by redrawing district maps in a way that he says gives Democrats an outsized share of seats compared to their statewide vote totals. Lucas fired back aggressively, telling Cruz that "you all started it and we fucking finished it." She later claimed she was just responding to "haters" and wasn't being politically correct.

  • On February 6, 2026, Ted Cruz criticized the Virginia redistricting process on Twitter.
  • On February 7, 2026, Senator Louise Lucas responded angrily to Cruz's tweets.

The players

Ted Cruz

A Republican U.S. Senator from Texas who has been critical of the redistricting process in Virginia.

L. Louise Lucas

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Virginia who responded aggressively to Cruz's criticism of the state's redistricting.

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What they’re saying

“A brazen abuse of power & an insult to democracy.47% of VA voted Trump. They will now get just 9% of the seats.52% of VA voters voted Harris. Now they get 91% of the seats.”

— Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator (Twitter)

“You all started it and we fucking finished it.”

— L. Louise Lucas, U.S. Senator (Twitter)

“I have learned that being politically correct is lost on haters so I speak the language that they understand.”

— L. Louise Lucas, U.S. Senator (Twitter)

What’s next

The redistricting process in Virginia is expected to continue to be a contentious political issue, with both parties accusing the other of gerrymandering for partisan advantage.

The takeaway

This exchange highlights the deep partisan divisions and accusations of unfair play that have surrounded the redistricting process in Virginia. It also raises questions about Senator Lucas' leadership style and her ability to effectively address the challenges facing her district.