Block, Siteadmin, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, delete, edit, move, nsTeam2RO, nsTeam2RW, nsTeam2_talkRO, nsTeam2_talkRW, protect, rollback, Administrators, template
295,703
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 25:
Line 25: − + Line 31:
Line 31: − + − + + + − [[File:DQ-LmLAU8AAcRFs.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Beto's mugshot.]]+ Line 48:
Line 50: − + Line 55:
Line 57: − Gilbert Garcia, the San Antonio journalist, notes that O'Rourke would immediately become mentioned as a future presidential possibility if he has succeeded 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/> Yet even in defeat, O'Rourke remains one of the three leading candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.+ + + − In April 2018, 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> Ultimately Cruz won Lubbock County, 58,709 (64.2 percent) to O'Rourke's 31,976 (35 percent),+ − [[File:Beto picking his nose.jpeg|right|275px|thumb|When he's not picking his nose, Beto usually is busy raising money from Hollywood [[elitism|elite]]s or diverting campaign funds to [[illegal alien]]s.]] − By July, however, O'Rourke said that he could immediately vote as a House member to impeach Trump based on what liberals and the national media view as a disastrous summit appearance with [[Russia]]n President [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/397469-cruz-challenger-calls-for-trumps-impeachment-over-putin-summit|title=O'Rourke calls for Trump's impeachment over Putin summit|publisher=Thehill.com|date=July 17, 2018|author=Max Greenwood|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref> − Bssed on O'Rourke's successful fund-raising, large crowds at campaign rallies, and respectable opinion polling, the magazine ''Politico'' declared that "Beto-mania" was sweeping Texas, an early warning to Senator Ted Cruz that he could be unseated in a "blue wave" in the November general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/09/beto-mania-sweeps-texas-218961|title=Beto-mania Sweeps Texas|publisher=''Politico'' magazine|date=July 9, 2018|author=Ben Schreckinger|accessdate=July 13, 2018}}</ref> − [[File:Beto's immense appeal.jpeg|right|200px|thumb|Beto displaying his awesome popular appeal and immense social media skills.]] − O'Rourke will be succeeded in the House by fellow Democrat Veronica Escobar, who handily turned back the Republican challenge waged by 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.+ + +
no edit summary
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
}}
}}
'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' known as '''Beto O'Rourke''' and formerly as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972), served from 2013 to 2019 as the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]]. He was the [[liberal]] [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for the [[United States Senate]] in 2018. Having waged a vigorous campaign with huge funding assets, he came within 220,000 votes of unseating the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] in the November 6 [[general election]]. Cruz finished with 4,240,942 votes (50.9 percent) to O'Rourke's 4,017,851 (48.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=}}</ref>
'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' known as '''Beto O'Rourke''' and formerly as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972), served from 2013 to 2019 as the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]]. He was the unsuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee for the [[United States Senate]] in 2018.
Beto, who supports the [[Green New Deal]], accepted $476,325 from the oil and gas industry after taking the "No Fossil Fuel Money" pledge,<ref>https://freebeacon.com/politics/executive-producer-of-new-beto-doc-carbon-based-fuels-rule-the-world-thats-not-going-to-change/</ref> making him the second-biggest recipient of fossil fuel money in Congress.<ref>https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=E01++</ref> O'Rourke's [[white privilege]] has propelled him into the top ranks of [[2020 presidential election|2020 Democratic presidential contenders]].
Beto, who supports the [[Green New Deal]], accepted $476,325 from the oil and gas industry after taking the "No Fossil Fuel Money" pledge,<ref>https://freebeacon.com/politics/executive-producer-of-new-beto-doc-carbon-based-fuels-rule-the-world-thats-not-going-to-change/</ref> making him the second-biggest recipient of fossil fuel money in Congress.<ref>https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.php?ind=E01++</ref> O'Rourke's [[white privilege]] has propelled him into the top ranks of [[2020 presidential election|2020 Democratic presidential contenders]].
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.
Despite portraying himself as an "everyman," O'Rourke is more than twice as wealthy as Ted Cruz.<ref>Weissert, Will (October 10, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/10/beto-orourke-twice-wealthy-ted-cruz-net-worth-9-mi/ Despite everyman image, Beto O'Rourke twice as wealthy as Ted Cruz]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved October 11, 2018.</ref> During his campaign, he spent $18 million on consultants despite promising not to spend any money on them.<ref>Mikelionis, Lukas (October 31, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/beto-orourke-spends-18m-on-consultancy-firm-despite-promising-not-to-hire-any-consultants Beto O'Rourke spends $18M on consultancy firm despite promising not to hire any consultants]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 31, 2018.</ref>
Despite portraying himself as an "everyman," O'Rourke is more than twice as wealthy as Ted Cruz.<ref>Weissert, Will (October 10, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/10/beto-orourke-twice-wealthy-ted-cruz-net-worth-9-mi/ Despite everyman image, Beto O'Rourke twice as wealthy as Ted Cruz]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved October 11, 2018.</ref> During his campaign, he raised $70 million from Hollywood donors and spent $18 million on consultants despite promising not to spend any money on them.<ref>Mikelionis, Lukas (October 31, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/beto-orourke-spends-18m-on-consultancy-firm-despite-promising-not-to-hire-any-consultants Beto O'Rourke spends $18M on consultancy firm despite promising not to hire any consultants]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 31, 2018.</ref>
==Background==
==Background==
[[File:DQ-LmLAU8AAcRFs.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Beto's mugshot.]]
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 and El Paso is a predominantly Hispanic city. Beto is considered by many as the penultimate [[beta-male]].<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/411830-ex-trump-strategist-calls-beto-orourke-beta</ref> 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 Melissa 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, lost the May 22 Democratic gubernatorial runoff election to 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 and El Paso is a predominantly Hispanic city. Beto is considered by many as the penultimate [[beta-male]].<ref>https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/411830-ex-trump-strategist-calls-beto-orourke-beta</ref> 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 Melissa 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, lost the May 22 Democratic gubernatorial runoff election to 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 1998, O'Rourke was cited for drunk driving in a car accident. He fled the scene.<ref>Adams, Becket (September 25, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beto-orourke-lied-in-his-first-debate-about-his-drunken-driving-crash Beto O’Rourke lied in his first debate about his drunken driving crash]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref><ref>Church, Nate (September 25, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/25/beto-orourke-claims-he-did-not-leave-scene-dwi/ Beto O’Rourke Falsely Claims He Did Not Leave Scene of DWI]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref>
In 1998, O'Rourke was cited for drunk driving in a car accident. He fled the scene.<ref>Adams, Becket (September 25, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beto-orourke-lied-in-his-first-debate-about-his-drunken-driving-crash Beto O’Rourke lied in his first debate about his drunken driving crash]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref><ref>Church, Nate (September 25, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/25/beto-orourke-claims-he-did-not-leave-scene-dwi/ Beto O’Rourke Falsely Claims He Did Not Leave Scene of DWI]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 25, 2018.</ref>
O'Rourke will be succeeded in the House by fellow Democrat Veronica Escobar, who handily turned back the Republican challenge waged by Rick Seeberger in the November 6, 2018 general election.
==Political career==
==Political career==
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>
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>
[[File:Beto picking his nose.jpeg|left|275px|thumb|When he's not picking his nose, Beto usually is busy raising money from Hollywood [[elitism|elite]]s or diverting campaign funds to [[illegal alien]]s.]]
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 failed to unseat 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 failed to unseat Will Hurd.<ref>Gilbert Garcia, Artist seen as force in Democratic politics", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 16, 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>
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>
In April 2018, 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> Ultimately Cruz won Lubbock County, 58,709 (64.2 percent) to O'Rourke's 31,976 (35 percent).
[[File:Beto's immense appeal.jpeg|right|200px|thumb|Beto displaying his awesome popular appeal and immense social media skills.]]
By July, however, O'Rourke said that he could immediately vote as a House member to impeach Trump based on what liberals and the ]]fake news]] media claimed was a disastrous summit appearance with [[Russia]]n President [[Vladimir Putin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/397469-cruz-challenger-calls-for-trumps-impeachment-over-putin-summit|title=O'Rourke calls for Trump's impeachment over Putin summit|publisher=Thehill.com|date=July 17, 2018|author=Max Greenwood|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref>
Bssed on O'Rourke's successful fund-raising, large crowds at campaign rallies, and respectable opinion polling, the magazine ''Politico'' declared that "Beto-mania" was sweeping Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/07/09/beto-mania-sweeps-texas-218961|title=Beto-mania Sweeps Texas|publisher=''Politico'' magazine|date=July 9, 2018|author=Ben Schreckinger|accessdate=July 13, 2018}}</ref>
In August 2018, O'Rourke embarked on a 34-day road trip of all 254 counties in a white Dodge Grand Caravan. He stopped in such faraway rural communities as Archer City on the north central plains, which is portrayed as a dying town in the 1971 Peter Bogdanovich film, ''The Last Picture Show''. O'Rourke is the first Democrat to campaign for the Senate in Archer City since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1948. Rarely has a Democratic candidate in Texas paid such close attention to rural counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lmtonline.com/news/politics/texas/article/Democrat-Beto-O-Rourke-woos-rural-Texans-in-GOP-13145491.php?utm_campaign=hptexas|title=Democrat Beto O'Rourke woos rural Texans in GOP strongholds, ignoring party playbook|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|date=August 10, 2018|author=Kevin Diaz|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref> Later in the month in Texas City in Galveston County, O'Rourke drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than eight hundred at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center. The crowd was compared to the throngs in 1990 that came out to support the Democrat [[Ann Richards]] in her successful gubernatorial race against Republican Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. In his speech, the normally highly partisan O'Rourke called for "[[bipartisanship]]" and noted the passage of a veterans mental health care bill that he had sponsored, which President Trump signed into law in April: "It was a sign the different parties could — and should — still work together," O'Rourke said.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.galvnews.com/article_9f257c13-88c9-5bd8-87ec-4e4b28750427.html|title=O'Rourke draws large, enthusiastic crowd in Texas City|author=John Wayne Ferguson|publisher= ''The Galveston County Daily News''|date=August 22, 2018|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>
In August 2018, O'Rourke embarked on a 34-day road trip of all 254 counties in a white Dodge Grand Caravan. He stopped in such faraway rural communities as Archer City on the north central plains, which is portrayed as a dying town in the 1971 Peter Bogdanovich film, ''The Last Picture Show''. O'Rourke is the first Democrat to campaign for the Senate in Archer City since [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1948. Rarely has a Democratic candidate in Texas paid such close attention to rural counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lmtonline.com/news/politics/texas/article/Democrat-Beto-O-Rourke-woos-rural-Texans-in-GOP-13145491.php?utm_campaign=hptexas|title=Democrat Beto O'Rourke woos rural Texans in GOP strongholds, ignoring party playbook|publisher=''The Laredo Morning Times''|date=August 10, 2018|author=Kevin Diaz|accessdate=August 11, 2018}}</ref> Later in the month in Texas City in Galveston County, O'Rourke drew an enthusiastic crowd of more than eight hundred at the Charles T. Doyle Convention Center. The crowd was compared to the throngs in 1990 that came out to support the Democrat [[Ann Richards]] in her successful gubernatorial race against Republican Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. In his speech, the normally highly partisan O'Rourke called for "[[bipartisanship]]" and noted the passage of a veterans mental health care bill that he had sponsored, which President Trump signed into law in April: "It was a sign the different parties could — and should — still work together," O'Rourke said.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.galvnews.com/article_9f257c13-88c9-5bd8-87ec-4e4b28750427.html|title=O'Rourke draws large, enthusiastic crowd in Texas City|author=John Wayne Ferguson|publisher= ''The Galveston County Daily News''|date=August 22, 2018|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>
Having waged a vigorous campaign with huge funding assets, he came within 220,000 votes of unseating the incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] in the November 6 [[general election]]. Cruz finished with 4,240,942 votes (50.9 percent) to O'Rourke's 4,017,851 (48.3 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/nov06_331_state.htm?x=0&y=0&id=545|title=Election Returns|date=November 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=}}</ref>
Gilbert Garcia, the San Antonio journalist, notes that O'Rourke would immediately become mentioned as a future presidential possibility if he has succeeded 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/> Yet even in defeat, O'Rourke remains one of the three leading candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
==References==
==References==