The article actually does quote Cruz:
“I agree with most of what Ted Cruz says here and here it is.
I think the Texas election in 2018 is powerful foreshadowing for what to expect across the country in 2020 that is correct. The Democrats in Texas increased their turnout in more than 100% the far left has pissed off. They hate the president, and that is a powerful motivator. If the left shows up in massive numbers and everybody else doesn’t, that’s how we end up with an incredibly damaging election for the Republican party damaging election, and again, you’re right about that, but you’re wrong about it. Just being that we’re pissed off at the president. You see, that’s the thing I don’t think a lot of people grasp right now.”
“The article actually does quote Cruz”
You’re right. It is not actually an article but a video. But the transcription failed to put what Cruz said in quotes (the video does not actually show Cruz but the person presenting does quote him partially). I thought due to the lack of quotes that it was merely a paraphrase. Note that the “quote” does not include Cruz using the word from the headline: “Warn”.
In other words, Cruz could have said exactly what you wanted him to say but the person reporting it could be merely calling it Cruz “warning” us.
This is a leftist website that quotes Cruz without any actual citation other than telling us where he got it. Here is a recording of the entire breakfast talk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xbku_ohiys
It is over an hour, and I am not planning to listen to the whole thing. What I did listen to does not have Cruz using the term “warn”. He starts off addressing gun control and then responds to a question about Texas. That’s where this video we’re discussing gets his comments from:
https://youtu.be/0Xbku_ohiys?t=701
Here is what he actually said: “I think Texas is a battleground. I think Texas is going to be hotly contested in 2020. I believe the president will win Texas.”
He also did say something very similar to what you said he should have said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xbku_ohiys&feature=youtu.be&t=843
“I very much hope we prevail in November, and I’m working hard for us to win in November.”