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'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' known as '''Beto O'Rourke''' and formerly as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972), has been since 2013 the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]]. He is the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for the [[United States Senate]] in 2018. He faces the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] in the November 6  [[general election]].

'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' known as '''Beto O'Rourke''' and formerly as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972), has been since 2013 the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]]. He is the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for the [[United States Senate]] in 2018. He faces the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] in the November 6  [[general election]].

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]], 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>

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 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>

Unlike Cruz, O'Rourke is not himself Hispanic. He is considered a potentially strong opponent to Cruz because of his early start to his campaign, favorable media coverage, strong fund-raising (often surpassing that of 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.

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>

O'Rourke carries the support of several liberals in the acting profession, the best known of whom is  Connie Britton, a Democrat who played the caring mother and wife on the former [[television]] series, ''Friday Night Lights''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Celebrities-who-are-supporting-Beto-O-Rourke-for-12806358.php|title=Celebrities who are supporting Democrat Beto O'Rourke for Senate: Republican incumbent Ted Cruz also has enjoyed some support from the entertainment industry|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=April 5, 2018|author=Jeremy Wallace|accessdate=April 7, 2018}}</ref> Other celebrities on the O'Rourke team are Sarah Jessica Parker, formerly with the television series ''Sex and the City, and talk show host [[Rosie O'Donnell]], a long-term critic of President Trump.<ref name=feastorfamine>Gilbert Garcia, "For O'Rourke, November means feast or famine" (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', May 13, 2018, p. A2.</ref>

O'Rourke carries the support of several liberals in the acting profession, such as Connie Britton, a Democrat who played the caring mother and wife on the former [[NBC]] [[television]] series, ''Friday Night Lights''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Celebrities-who-are-supporting-Beto-O-Rourke-for-12806358.php|title=Celebrities who are supporting Democrat Beto O'Rourke for Senate: Republican incumbent Ted Cruz also has enjoyed some support from the entertainment industry|publisher=''The Houston Chronicle''|date=April 5, 2018|author=Jeremy Wallace|accessdate=April 7, 2018}}</ref> Other celebrities on the O'Rourke team are Sarah Jessica Parker, formerly with the television series ''Sex and the City, and talk show host [[Rosie O'Donnell]], a long-term critic of President Trump.<ref name=feastorfamine>Gilbert Garcia, "For O'Rourke, November means feast or famine" (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', May 13, 2018, p. A2.</ref>

Gilbert Garcia notes that O'Rourke will immediately become mentioned as a future presidential possibility if he succeeds in upsetting Cruz. "With his Kennedy-esque looks and defiantly idealistic exuberance, he has that rare ability to inspire voters" while establishment politicians make voting a dull civic exercise not much different from "eating your [[broccoli]]".<ref name=feastorfamine/>

Gilbert Garcia, the San Antonio journalist, notes that O'Rourke will immediately become mentioned as a future presidential possibility if he succeeds in upsetting Cruz. "With his Kennedy-esque looks and defiantly idealistic exuberance, he has that rare ability to inspire voters" while establishment politicians make voting a dull civic exercise not much different from "eating your [[broccoli]]".<ref name=feastorfamine/>

In April 2008, O'Rourke addressed a gathering of five hundred at [[Texas Tech University]] in the usually Republican city of [[Lubbock]]. In his speech, he denounced what he called Republican "paranoia, the fear, the divisiveness, the smallness that distinguishes that kind of thinking and leadership." Instead, O'Rourke vowed to promote "confidence and a courage and a strength and a kindness and a big heart that can only come from Texas."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180408/orourke-town-halls-attracts-500-plus-at-texas-tech|title=O'Rourke town hall attracts 500-plus at Texas Tech|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=April 8, 2018}}</ref> At that same meeting, O'Rourke said that he had seen enough evidence to warrant the [[impeachment]] of President Trump. A few days later at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, O'Rourke denied that he is pre-committed to impeachment: "I never brought this issue up." O'Rourke described impeachment as "perhaps the most serious and solemn responsibility" for members of Congress and "not something we should trifle with or campaign on."<ref>Gilbert Garcia, "Promises to impeach Trump send wrong message for Democrats" (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 29, 2018, pp. 1, A2.</ref>

In April 2008, O'Rourke addressed a gathering of five hundred at [[Texas Tech University]] in the usually Republican city of [[Lubbock]]. In his speech, he denounced what he called Republican "paranoia, the fear, the divisiveness, the smallness that distinguishes that kind of thinking and leadership." Instead, O'Rourke vowed to promote "confidence and a courage and a strength and a kindness and a big heart that can only come from Texas."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/20180408/orourke-town-halls-attracts-500-plus-at-texas-tech|title=O'Rourke town hall attracts 500-plus at Texas Tech|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|accessdate=April 8, 2018}}</ref> At that same meeting, O'Rourke said that he had seen enough evidence to warrant the [[impeachment]] of President Trump. A few days later at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, O'Rourke denied that he is pre-committed to impeachment: "I never brought this issue up." O'Rourke described impeachment as "perhaps the most serious and solemn responsibility" for members of Congress and "not something we should trifle with or campaign on."<ref>Gilbert Garcia, "Promises to impeach Trump send wrong message for Democrats" (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 29, 2018, pp. 1, A2.</ref>

O'Rourke is expected to be succeeded in the House by fellow Democrat Veronica Escobar, who faces the Republican challenge of Rick Seeberger in the November 6 general election. In the March 6 primary, 49,868 voted in the District 16 Democratic contest, compared to only 10,489 on the Republican side.

O'Rourke is expected to be succeeded in the House by fellow Democrat Veronica Escobar, who faces the Republican challenge of Rick Seeberger in the November 6 general election. In the March 6 primary, 49,868 voted in the District 16 Democratic contest, compared to only 10,489 on the Republican side.