Neither billionaire businessman Donald Trump nor Texas Sen. Ted Cruz reflect the "broad perspective of the American people," House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told CNBC on Thursday.
The Maryland Democrat said on "Squawk Box" he looks forward to either candidate getting the Republican presidential nomination.
"Trump or Senator Cruz will be opponents that we will be able to take on very effectively," said Hoyer, the second-most powerful Democrat in the House. "Trump is a lot rhetoric, but no solutions and simply conclusions."
While making the case for Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Hoyer said voters can see they both have vision. "But what they also see in Hillary Clinton is strategy and policies to realize a vision."
"She's tough. She's focused. She's able," Hoyer said. She's "savvy enough to work with the political structure in Washington, D.C., to get things done."
Acknowledging the broken system that's helped Trump, Cruz and Sanders, Hoyer said: "It's clear the American people want to make sure they have an efficient government."
He expressed frustration with the constant gridlock in the House, saying the "board of directors for the people of the United States" has been unable to deliver in recent years.
Not surprisingly, Hoyer laid the blame at the GOP's door.
He said he was encouraged by what he called the short-lived bipartisan spirit of the Republicans in the final months of last year's Congress, following John Boehner's resignation as House speaker in September under pressure from staunch conservatives.
Rep. Paul Ryan, who took over for the Ohio Republican, closed out 2015 by compromising on a massive government budget, which certainly did not endear the Wisconsin Republican to the far right wing of his party who wanted a House speaker to fight for austerity.
Despite what Hoyer viewed as a fair deal, he said Republican leaders don't seem to be in the bipartisan mood on the budget this year.