Ted Cruz: Voters Gave GOP a Chance, Now It Must Earn Trust

Voters may have rejected "Obama stagnation and malaise" in Tuesday's midterm elections, but that doesn't mean they are any happier with Republicans, Sen. Ted Cruz warned late Tuesday night.

"The fact that the people rose up and voted the Democrats out of power doesn't necessarily mean they trust the Republicans," Cruz told Fox News Channel. "They've given us another chance. But we've got to earn that trust."

The Texas Republican has drawn the ire of both Democrats and establishment members of his own party with his tea party philosophy and his leading of the partial government shutdown in October 2013.

At the time, Democrats thought they were poised not only to hold the Senate, but perhaps to take control of the House after the GOP suffered a drop in public opinion after the shutdown. But a year later, it was the Democrats who were vanquished, losing more seats in the House and losing control of the Senate to Republicans.

Cruz, who is expected to make a run for president in 2016, sounded more conciliatory at least toward his own party Tuesday, saying the GOP must now lead with a united, bold, positive agenda, focusing on tax reform, regulatory reform and U.S. energy independence.

Asked whether he would support Sen. Mitch McConnell as majority leader, Cruz said that would be a decision for the conference next week but he was not aware of anyone running against McConnell.