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{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke<br>

|name=Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke mugshot<br>

(Unsuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee against [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] for [[United States Senator]] for [[Texas]], 2018; failed presidential candidate, 2019)

(Unsuccessful [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] nominee against [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] for [[United States Senator]] for [[Texas]], 2018; failed presidential candidate, 2019; unsuccessful Texas Democratic gubernatorial nominee, 2022)

|image=Beto O'Rourke.jpg

|image=Beto O'Rourke.jpg

|office=[[U.S. Representative]] for Texas' 16th Congressional District ([[El Paso]])

|office=[[U.S. Representative]] for Texas' 16th Congressional District ([[El Paso]])

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]

|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]

}}

}}

'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' (''Celtic:'' '''Roibeárd Ó Ruairc''') called '''"Beto" O'Rourke''', even though he is not Hispanic, and was formerly known as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972). He is famous for standing on tables in alcohol-drinking establishments while spewing [[leftist]] [[demagogue|demagoguery]].<ref>https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a26860555/beto-orourke-standing-on-counters/</ref>

'''Robert Francis O'Rourke,''' (''Celtic:'' '''Roibeárd Ó Ruairc''') called '''"Beto" O'Rourke''' and more properly '''Beta O'Rourke''', even though he is not Hispanic, and was formerly known as '''Rob O'Rourke''' (born September 26, 1972). He is famous for standing on tables in alcohol-drinking establishments while spewing [[leftist]] [[demagogue]]ry.<ref>https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a26860555/beto-orourke-standing-on-counters/</ref> On May 25, 2022, he rudely interrupted a press conference by [[Texas]] public officials in order to pontificate himself, whereupon he was removed and sharply criticized by the local mayor, [[Don McLaughlin, Jr.]], a [[Republican Party|Republican]] in a nonpartisan office.

Beto unsuccessfully ran for the [[Democrat]]ic presidential nomination in 2020, dropping out in 2019 months before the first primary. Prior to that, he lost in his bid to represent [[Texas]] in the [[U.S. Senate]]. Previously he served from 2013 to 2019 as the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]], the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]'s (DEA) headquarters for the [[Western Hemisphere]].<ref>https://www.dea.gov/el-paso-intelligence-center-epic</ref> Beto has received financial contributions from [[Jeffrey Epstein]], and [[liberal]]s seem to delight in his misleading nickname.  

A notorious [[cross-dresser]], Beto unsuccessfully ran for the [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] presidential nomination in 2020, dropping out in 2019 months before the first primary. Prior to that, he lost in his bid to represent [[Texas]] in the [[U.S. Senate]]. Previously he served from 2013 to 2019 as the [[U.S. Representative]] for [[Texas]]'s 16th congressional district, based in his native [[El Paso]], the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]]'s (DEA) headquarters for the [[Western Hemisphere]].<ref>https://www.dea.gov/el-paso-intelligence-center-epic</ref> Beto has received financial contributions from [[Jeffrey Epstein]], and [[liberal]]s seem to delight in his misleading nickname.  

O'Rourke is widely expected to announce his 2022 candidacy for [[governor]] of Texas, a course which could pit him against incumbent [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Greg Abbott]].

In 2022, O'Rourke is the Democrat nominee against two-term Republican Governor [[Greg Abbott]].

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. On November 1, 2019, Beto pulled the plug on his campaign which never really got off the ground.<ref>Multiple references:

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. On November 1, 2019, Beto pulled the plug on his campaign which never really got off the ground.<ref>Multiple references:

Willie Nelson, outed as a virulent racist who sings in celebration of public lynchings,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://psmag.com/news/country-hits-are-getting-more-misogynistic-according-to-new-research?fbclid=IwAR0L2NbDN6gHqxr8vnsjPyB6GZFuMbUxIjh-k9uFn74tSrvx9y-U_xc_OAk|title=COUNTRY HITS INCREASINGLY OBJECTIFY WOMEN AND GLORIFY WHITENESS|last=Jacobs|first=Tom|date=May 7, 2019|website=Pacific Standard|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>https://www.salon.com/2003/07/16/beer_horses/</ref><ref>http://newblackwoman.com/2008/07/31/toby-keiths-ode-to-lynching/</ref> is an enthusiastic Beto supporter.<ref>https://freebeacon.com/blog/prominent-beto-supporter-denounced-for-singing-pro-lynching-anthem/</ref>

Willie Nelson, outed as a virulent racist who sings in celebration of public lynchings,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://psmag.com/news/country-hits-are-getting-more-misogynistic-according-to-new-research?fbclid=IwAR0L2NbDN6gHqxr8vnsjPyB6GZFuMbUxIjh-k9uFn74tSrvx9y-U_xc_OAk|title=COUNTRY HITS INCREASINGLY OBJECTIFY WOMEN AND GLORIFY WHITENESS|last=Jacobs|first=Tom|date=May 7, 2019|website=Pacific Standard|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>https://www.salon.com/2003/07/16/beer_horses/</ref><ref>http://newblackwoman.com/2008/07/31/toby-keiths-ode-to-lynching/</ref> is an enthusiastic Beto supporter.<ref>https://freebeacon.com/blog/prominent-beto-supporter-denounced-for-singing-pro-lynching-anthem/</ref>

Beto is a persistent [[Trump-Russia collusion hoax]]er.  ''The Federalist'' reported on Beto's first presidential debate performance: {{quotebox|O’Rourke, who had kicked off an entertaining arms race in Spanish proficiency, promised to fund “resiliency”—the cost unknown. The one-time darling of the media also promised that as president he would instruct his Justice Department to prosecute his predecessor for “potential crimes,” which didn’t even provoke a murmur from the commentariat, although it’s the same kind of rhetoric that elicits high indignation when used by Trump.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2019/06/27/first-debate-proved-democratic-party-gone-loco/</ref>}}

Beto is a persistent [[Trump-Russia collusion hoax]]er.  ''The Federalist'' reported on O'Rourke's first presidential debate performance: {{quotebox|O’Rourke, who had kicked off an entertaining arms race in Spanish proficiency, promised to fund “resiliency”—the cost unknown. The one-time darling of the media also promised that as president he would instruct his Justice Department to prosecute his predecessor for “potential crimes,” which didn’t even provoke a murmur from the commentariat, although it’s the same kind of rhetoric that elicits high indignation when used by Trump.<ref>https://thefederalist.com/2019/06/27/first-debate-proved-democratic-party-gone-loco/</ref>}}

As Beto's poll numbers tumbled, after the [[El Paso Walmart shooting]] by a crazed [[leftist]] who blamed Mexicans for impeding [[universal basic income]], [[universal healthcare]] and not re-cycling plastics,<ref>https://www.paypervids.com/alleged-el-paso-texas-walmart-shooter-manifesto/</ref> Beto cursed out President Trump with the most vile, profane invective.  Beto's widely publicized hate-filled rants, accusing Trump supporters of being racists and [[white supremacist]]s,<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2019/08/04/beto-orourke-trump-white-supremacist/</ref> cost Beto one of three supporters in polls the following week.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2019/08/08/beto-orourke-less-one-percent-support-iowa/</ref> [[CNN]] published an op-ed rant of his against ''[[Fox News]]'', [[Breitbart]], Sinclair Media, the [[NRA]], Trump supporters and [[white supremacy]].  In a much-touted umpteenth effort to bootstrap his failing campaign built on [[identity politics]], Beto said, {{quotebox|"When we allow this country to be defined along lines of race, ethnicity, and religion, the end of that road is the end of this idea of America."<ref>https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1162052063934713857</ref>}}

As Beto's poll numbers tumbled, after the [[El Paso Walmart shooting]] by a crazed [[leftist]] who blamed Mexicans for impeding [[universal basic income]], [[universal healthcare]] and not re-cycling plastics,<ref>https://www.paypervids.com/alleged-el-paso-texas-walmart-shooter-manifesto/</ref> Beto cursed out President Trump with the most vile, profane invective.  Beto's widely publicized hate-filled rants, accusing Trump supporters of being racists and [[white supremacist]]s,<ref>https://dailycaller.com/2019/08/04/beto-orourke-trump-white-supremacist/</ref> cost Beto one of three supporters in polls the following week.<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/2020-election/2019/08/08/beto-orourke-less-one-percent-support-iowa/</ref> [[CNN]] published an op-ed rant of his against ''[[Fox News]]'', [[Breitbart]], Sinclair Media, the [[NRA]], Trump supporters and [[white supremacy]].  In a much-touted umpteenth effort to bootstrap his failing campaign built on [[identity politics]], Beto said, {{quotebox|"When we allow this country to be defined along lines of race, ethnicity, and religion, the end of that road is the end of this idea of America."<ref>https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1162052063934713857</ref>}}

According to the [[DEA]], El Paso is a major hub for Mexican [[opioid]]s and [[methamphetamine]] en route to the rest of the United States.<ref>https://www.judicialwatch.org/corruption-chronicles/dhs-agents-bribed-let-drugs-illegal-aliens-u-s-el-paso-major-corridor-mexican-drugs/</ref>  In the Summer of 2019 the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released figures showing that the El Paso sector had a 1,588% increase in illegal immigrant apprehensions during the first month of 2019 compared to the first month of 2018. Most are come from [[Honduras]], [[Guatemala]] and [[El Salvador]].<ref>https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sw-border-migration/usbp-sw-border-apprehensions</ref>

According to the [[DEA]], El Paso is a major hub for Mexican [[opioid]]s and [[methamphetamine]] en route to the rest of the United States.<ref>https://www.judicialwatch.org/corruption-chronicles/dhs-agents-bribed-let-drugs-illegal-aliens-u-s-el-paso-major-corridor-mexican-drugs/</ref>  In the Summer of 2019 the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released figures showing that the El Paso sector had a 1,588% increase in illegal immigrant apprehensions during the first month of 2019 compared to the first month of 2018. Most are come from [[Honduras]], [[Guatemala]] and [[El Salvador]].<ref>https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/sw-border-migration/usbp-sw-border-apprehensions</ref>

Mexican drug cartels smuggle foreigners from countries with terrorist links into a small rural town near El Paso by using remote farm roads—rather than interstates—to elude the Border Patrol and other law enforcement barriers.  The foreigners are classified as Special Interest Aliens (SIA) and are transported to stash areas in Acala, a rural crossroads located around 54 miles from El Paso on a state road – Highway 20. Once in the U.S., the SIAs wait for pick-up in the area's sand hills just across Highway 20.

[[Mexican drug cartel]]s smuggle foreigners from countries with terrorist links into a small rural town near El Paso by using remote farm roads—rather than interstates—to elude the Border Patrol and other law enforcement barriers.  The foreigners are classified as Special Interest Aliens (SIA) and are transported to stash areas in Acala, a rural crossroads located around 54 miles from El Paso on a state road – Highway 20. Once in the U.S., the SIAs wait for pick-up in the area's sand hills just across Highway 20.

[[File:Fast and Furious violence.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Well over 100,000 people have been killed in Mexican Drug Cartel Wars since the [[Obama administration]] launched [[Operation Fast and Furious]].<ref>https://archive.is/RyT8w</ref>]]

[[File:Fast and Furious violence.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Well over 100,000 people have been killed in Mexican Drug Cartel Wars since the [[Obama administration]] launched [[Operation Fast and Furious]].<ref>https://archive.is/RyT8w</ref>]]

''[[The New York Times]]'' documented in  how hundreds of employees and contract workers at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have taken millions of dollars in bribes to let drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/homeland-security-border-bribes.html</ref>  The DEA is cited in a Texas news report confirming that El Paso is a major corridor for Mexican cartels smuggling drugs into the U.S.<ref>https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/dea-2016-report-alarming-rise-in-opioid-drug-overdoses-product-passing-through-el-paso</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' documented in  how hundreds of employees and contract workers at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have taken millions of dollars in bribes to let drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/homeland-security-border-bribes.html</ref>  The DEA is cited in a Texas news report confirming that El Paso is a major corridor for Mexican cartels smuggling drugs into the U.S.<ref>https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/dea-2016-report-alarming-rise-in-opioid-drug-overdoses-product-passing-through-el-paso</ref>

===War tax===

===War tax===

Beto proposed a War Tax to tax non-military families.

Beto proposed a [[War]] [[Tax]] to tax non-[[military]] families.

===Post-mortem on strategy===

===Post-mortem on strategy===

Among Beto's many attributes is his talent as a [[poet]]. In 1988, under the pseudonym "Psychedelic Warlord" as a member of the [[hacker]] group Cult of the Dead Cow,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke/ |title=Beto O’Rourke’s secret membership in America’s oldest hacking group |publisher=www.reuters.com |accessdate=|date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke/|title=Beto O’Rourke’s secret membership in America’s oldest hacking group|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=|date=15 March 2019}}</ref> Beto came up with the name of the group.<ref>[[TOTSE]], [https://totseans.com/totse/en/ego/cult_of_the_dead_cow/cdc079.html "cDc 079: The True Story of Cult of the Dead Cow by Psychedelic Warlord"]</ref> Beto  authored "''The Song of the Cow'':"<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/beto-orourke-wrote-poem-asking-a-cow-to-wax-my-ass-and-scrub-my-balls</ref> O'Rourke had an agreement with [[leftwing]] [[mainstream media]] [[journalist]]s to keep secret his involvement with the hacker group until after his Senate race against Ted Cruz.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BFgXuIX4vA</ref> Ted Cruz responded:  

Among Beto's many attributes is his talent as a [[poet]]. In 1988, under the pseudonym "Psychedelic Warlord" as a member of the [[hacker]] group Cult of the Dead Cow,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke/ |title=Beto O’Rourke’s secret membership in America’s oldest hacking group |publisher=www.reuters.com |accessdate=|date=March 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke/|title=Beto O’Rourke’s secret membership in America’s oldest hacking group|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=|date=15 March 2019}}</ref> Beto came up with the name of the group.<ref>[[TOTSE]], [https://totseans.com/totse/en/ego/cult_of_the_dead_cow/cdc079.html "cDc 079: The True Story of Cult of the Dead Cow by Psychedelic Warlord"]</ref> Beto  authored "''The Song of the Cow'':"<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/beto-orourke-wrote-poem-asking-a-cow-to-wax-my-ass-and-scrub-my-balls</ref> O'Rourke had an agreement with [[leftwing]] [[mainstream media]] [[journalist]]s to keep secret his involvement with the hacker group until after his Senate race against Ted Cruz.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BFgXuIX4vA</ref> Ted Cruz responded:  

{{quotebox|So [[Reuters]] had evidence in 2017 that Beto may have committed multiple [[felon]]ies—which Beto confirmed on the record—but deliberately withheld the story for over a year to help him win his Senate race?  But when he’s running against Bernie etc, NOW it’s news?<ref>https://therightscoop.com/reuters-reporter-admits-to-colluding-with-beto-to-hide-story-about-his-illegal-hacker-past-from-ted-cruz-race/</ref>}}

{{quotebox|So [[Reuters]] had evidence in 2017 that Beto may have committed multiple [[felon]]ies—which Beto confirmed on the record—but deliberately withheld the story for over a year to help him win his Senate race?  But when he’s running against Bernie etc, NOW it’s news?<ref>https://therightscoop.com/reuters-reporter-admits-to-colluding-with-beto-to-hide-story-about-his-illegal-hacker-past-from-ted-cruz-race/</ref>}}

[[File:Beto-and-the-pussycats 310.jpg|right|340px|thumb|Beto at the start of his stellar rise.]]  

[[File:Beto-and-the-pussycats 310.jpg|right|340px|thumb|Beta male: [[Cross dressing]] at the start of his stellar rise.]]  

'''''The Song of the Cow'''''<br>

'''''The Song of the Cow'''''<br>

I need a butt-shine,<br>

I need a butt-shine,<br>

===U.S. House===

===U.S. House===

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> Hurd easily dispatched his conservative primary, [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] from Uvalde County. and then a third term in 2018 general election by about one thousand votes. 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 formerly represented 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> Hurd easily dispatched his conservative primary, [[Alma Arredondo-Lynch]], a [[dentist]] from Uvalde County. and then a third term in 2018 general election by about one thousand votes. 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 was 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.

O'Rourke was succeeded in the House by fellow Democrat leftist [[Veronica Escobar]], who handily turned back the Republican challenge waged by Rick Seeberger in the November 6, 2018 general election.

===Senate campaign===

===Senate campaign===

[[File:Beto picking his nose.jpeg|left|275px|thumb|Beto usually is busy raising money from Hollywood [[elitism|elite]]s or diverting campaign funds to [[illegal alien]]s.]]

[[File:Beto picking his nose.jpeg|left|275px|thumb|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 also helped the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign of Andrew White, and the congressional race for Gina Ortiz Jones, who failed to unseat Will Hurd in the general election.<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 made 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 also helped the unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign of Andrew White, and the congressional race for Gina Ortiz Jones, who failed to unseat Will Hurd in the general election but was handily elected as mayor of San Antonio in 2025.<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>

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 who fled to [[Ireland]] after Trump's successful bid for a second term in 2024.<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).

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).

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>

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 had 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 leading candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Gilbert Garcia, the San Antonio journalist, notes that O'Rourke would immediately become mentioned as a future presidential possibility if he had 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 for the Senate, O'Rourke was an unsuccessful candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

===2022 Texas Gubernatorial Election===

===2022 Texas Gubernatorial Election===

On November 15, 2021, O’Rourke announced his candidacy for Governor or [[Texas]], attempting to defeat Governor [[Greg Abbott]].<ref> https://www.foxnews.com/politics/beto-orourke-texas-governor-running.amp</ref>

On November 15, 2021, O’Rourke announced his candidacy for Governor of [[Texas]], attempting to defeat Governor [[Greg Abbott]].<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/beto-orourke-texas-governor-running.amp</ref>

 

In May 2022, he pulled a political stunt, heckling Texas Governor Greg Abbott during a [[Uvalde, Texas]] school shooting press conference. [[CBS News]] reported how the campaign had placed seat holders reserved for media at the press conference as part of the coordinated and “clearly staged” political stunt.  The fact that campaign staffers were holding seats to set the stage for his entrance reflects how far in advance the O’Rourke campaign planned to exploit the tragedy suffered by families as a political stunt.<ref>[https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2022/05/25/democrat-candidate-beto-orourke-pulls-political-stunt-during-texas-governor-greg-abbott-press-conference/ Democrat Candidate Beto O’Rourke Pulls Political Stunt During Texas Governor Greg Abbott Press Conference], Conservative Tree House, May 25, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://breaking911.com/watch-beto-orourke-speaks-after-interrupting-gov-abbotts-news-conference/ WATCH: Beto O'Rourke speaks to the media after interrupting Gov. Abbott's news conference], ''B911'', May 25, 2022.</ref>

==References==

==References==

==External links==

==External links==

*[https://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2018/08/23/texas-senate-challenger-beto-orourke-shady-past-corruption-cronyism-no-ones-talking/?utm_source=rsmorningbriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl The Beto O'Rourke corruption chronicles]

*[https://www.redstate.com/brandon_morse/2018/08/23/texas-senate-challenger-beto-orourke-shady-past-corruption-cronyism-no-ones-talking/?utm_source=rsmorningbriefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl The Beto O'Rourke corruption chronicles]

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