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O'Rourke was elected to the first of his three terms in Congress in November 2012. Earlier in the year he had unseated the incumbent Representative Silvestre Reyes, a fellow Democrat. Before his congressional years, the [[business]]man O'Rourke represented District 8 on the El Paso City Council.

O'Rourke was elected to the first of his three terms in Congress in November 2012. Earlier in the year he had unseated the incumbent Representative Silvestre Reyes, a fellow Democrat. Before his congressional years, the [[business]]man O'Rourke represented District 8 on the El Paso City Council.

The Irish-American O'Rourke claims that his nickname "Beto" came from childhood as a shortened name for "Roberto" in Spanish; many of his friends are Hispanic.  At [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]], at which he participated on the rowing team, he was known as "Robert" or "Rob". O'Rourke's mother is the former Meissa Martha Williams. His father was El Paso County Judge Pat Francis O'Rourke, a political associate of former Texas [[Governor]] [[Mark White]]'s whose son, Andrew White, is a candidate in the May 22 Democratic gubernatorial runoff election. The senior O'Rourke was killed in July 2001, when he was struck from behind by a vehicle while he was riding his bicycle across the state line into [[New Mexico]].<ref>Bill Lambrecht, "From border to brink of Senate run, ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2017, pp. 1, A9.</ref>

The Irish-American O'Rourke claims that his nickname "Beto" came from childhood as a shortened name for "Roberto" in Spanish; many of his friends are Hispanic.  At [[Columbia University]] in [[New York City]], at which he participated on the rowing team, he was known as "Robert" or "Rob". O'Rourke's mother is the former Meissa Martha Williams. His father was El Paso County Judge Pat Francis O'Rourke, a political associate of former Texas [[Governor]] [[Mark White]], whose son, Andrew White, is a candidate in the May 22 Democratic gubernatorial runoff election against the former sheriff of Dallas County, [[Lupe Valdez]]. The senior O'Rourke was killed in July 2001, when he was struck from behind by a vehicle while he was riding his bicycle across the state line into [[New Mexico]].<ref>Bill Lambrecht, "From border to brink of Senate run, ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2017, pp. 1, A9.</ref>

In the Republican primary held on March 6, 2018, Cruz defeated four weak intra-party opponents with 1,317,450 votes (85.3 percent). In the Democratic primary, O'Rourke received 641,337 votes (61.8 percent) over two intra-party rivals. Some 506,000 more Republicans voted in the Texas primary than did Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>  

In the Republican primary held on March 6, 2018, Cruz defeated four weak intra-party opponents with 1,317,450 votes (85.3 percent). In the Democratic primary, O'Rourke received 641,337 votes (61.8 percent) over two intra-party rivals. Some 506,000 more Republicans voted in the Texas primary than did Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>  

The [[liberal]] O'Rourke, who unlike Cruz is not himself Hispanic, is believed to be a potentially strong opponent because of an early start to his campaign, favorable media coverage, strong fund-raising (often surpassing Cruz), and a perception that he resembles "a Kennedy," referring to the popular [[Massachusetts]] [[John F. Kennedy|family of politicians]]. He has the same given names as [[Robert Kennedy|Robert Francis Kennedy]]. Already a candidate in 2017, O'Rourke traveled by car to southeastern Texas to participate in Hurricane Harvey relief operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/makes-beto-orourke-run/|title=Does Beto O'Rourke Stand a Chance Against Ted Cruz|date=January 2018|publisher=Texasmonthly.com|accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>

The [[liberal]] O'Rourke, who unlike Cruz is not himself Hispanic, is believed to be a potentially strong opponent because of an early start to his campaign, favorable media coverage, strong fund-raising (often surpassing Cruz), and a perception that he resembles "a Kennedy," referring to the popular [[Massachusetts]] [[John F. Kennedy|family of politicians]]. He has the same given names as [[Robert Kennedy|Robert Francis Kennedy]]. Already a Senate candidate in 2017, O'Rourke traveled by car to southeastern Texas to participate in Hurricane Harvey relief operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/makes-beto-orourke-run/|title=Does Beto O'Rourke Stand a Chance Against Ted Cruz|date=January 2018|publisher=Texasmonthly.com|accessdate=March 9, 2018}}</ref>

O'Rourke has developed a friendly relationship with [[Moderate Republican]] [[Will Hurd]] of Helotes, an [[African-American]] who represents Texas' 23rd congressional district. The two rode together by car in 2017 from Texas to [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>Bill Lambrecht, "From border to brink of Senate run," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2017, pp. 1, A9.</ref> O'Rourke supports [[amnesty]] for [[illegal alien]]s, [[LGBT]], [[gun control]], [[Obamacare]], and [[abortion]]. He opposes the War on Drugs and urges the liberalization of narcotics laws.

O'Rourke has developed a friendly relationship with [[Moderate Republican]] [[Will Hurd]] of Helotes, an [[African-American]] who represents Texas' 23rd congressional district. The two rode together by car in 2017 from Texas to [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>Bill Lambrecht, "From border to brink of Senate run," ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 17, 2017, pp. 1, A9.</ref> O'Rourke supports [[amnesty]] for [[illegal alien]]s, [[LGBT]], [[gun control]], [[Obamacare]], and [[abortion]]. He opposes the War on Drugs and urges the liberalization of narcotics laws.

In an appearance on ''Real Time with Bill Maher'' on March 6, 2018, O'Rourke agreed with liberal host [[Bill Maher]], who labeled Ted Cruz "a giant ass-hole." O'Rourke claimed on the broadcast that voters would "never have to wonder who it is I represent or who I’m voting for. It’s going to be the people of Texas, every single time." O'Rourke said that Cruz has allegedly alienated himself from the mass of Texas voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/democratic-challenger-agrees-with-bill-maher-that-ted-cruz-is-a-giant-a-hole|title=Democratic challenger agrees with Bill Maher that Ted Cruz is a 'giant a--hole'|author=Katie Leach|publisher=''The Washington Examiner''|date=March 17, 2018|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref>  

In an appearance on ''Real Time with Bill Maher'' on March 6, 2018, O'Rourke agreed with liberal host [[Bill Maher]], who labeled Ted Cruz "a giant ass-hole." O'Rourke claimed on the broadcast that voters would "never have to wonder who it is I represent or who I’m voting for. It’s going to be the people of Texas, every single time." O'Rourke said that Cruz has allegedly alienated himself from the mass of Texas voters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/democratic-challenger-agrees-with-bill-maher-that-ted-cruz-is-a-giant-a-hole|title=Democratic challenger agrees with Bill Maher that Ted Cruz is a 'giant a--hole'|author=Katie Leach|publisher=''The Washington Examiner''|date=March 17, 2018|accessdate=March 18, 2018}}</ref>  

The Hispanic pop artist Cruz Ortiz of San Antonio makes T-shirts which promote the O'Rourke candidacy with the message, "Beto por Tejas." His work adorns not only museums but [[Papa John's Pizza]] boxes as well. According to Gilbert Garcia of ''The San Antonio Express-News'', Ortiz is "that rare artist who can create cutting-edge work with mass appeal. ... That talent has turned him into a key player in Texas Democratic politics." He is also helping the gubernatorial campaign of Andrew White, who faces the more liberal [[Lupe Valdez]] in the May 22 runoff election, and the congressional race for Gina Ortiz Jones, who is seeking the party nomination to oppose Will Hurd.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, Artist seen as force in Democratic politics", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 16, 2018, p. A2.</ref>

The Hispanic pop artist Cruz Ortiz of San Antonio makes T-shirts which promote the O'Rourke candidacy with the message, "Beto por Tejas." His work adorns not only museums but [[Papa John's Pizza]] boxes as well. According to Gilbert Garcia of ''The San Antonio Express-News'', Ortiz is "that rare artist who can create cutting-edge work with mass appeal. ... That talent has turned him into a key player in Texas Democratic politics." He is also helping the gubernatorial campaign of Andrew White, who faces the more liberal Lupe Valdez in the May 22 runoff, and the congressional race for Gina Ortiz Jones, who is seeking the party nomination to oppose Will Hurd.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, Artist seen as force in Democratic politics", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 16, 2018, p. A2.</ref>

O'Rourke is a forceful advocate for illegal aliens. Conditions on the border can be enhanced, he says, if the United States treated people in border cities with “dignity and respect.” He claims that the border is secure and safe and hence opposes a U.S. military presence to thwart invaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/beto-orourke-southern-border-can-be-safer-if-lawmakers-treat-border-communities-with-dignity-and-respect|title=Beto O'Rourke: Southern border can be safer if lawmakers treat border communities with 'dignity and respect'|publisher=''The Washington Examiner''|author=Katelyn Caralle|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>

O'Rourke is a forceful advocate for illegal aliens. Conditions on the border can be enhanced, he says, if the United States treated people in border cities with “dignity and respect.” He claims that the border is secure and safe and hence opposes a U.S. military presence to thwart invaders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/beto-orourke-southern-border-can-be-safer-if-lawmakers-treat-border-communities-with-dignity-and-respect|title=Beto O'Rourke: Southern border can be safer if lawmakers treat border communities with 'dignity and respect'|publisher=''The Washington Examiner''|author=Katelyn Caralle|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}</ref>