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O'Rourke, 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> Initially O'Rourke's [[white privilege]] propelled him into the top ranks of [[2020 presidential election|2020 Democratic presidential contenders]]; the more he spoke the more his poll numbers faltered .

O'Rourke, 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> Initially O'Rourke's [[white privilege]] propelled him into the top ranks of [[2020 presidential election|2020 Democratic presidential contenders]]; the more he spoke the more his poll numbers faltered .

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. Although El Paso ranks as America's 22nd largest city, if the Mexican City of Juarez were included in the metropolitan area, El Paso-Juarez would be the 5th largest city in America, ranked between [[Houston]] and [[Phoenix]].

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>

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>