Unlike Cruz, O'Rourke is not himself Hispanic. He strongly contested Cruz by means of his early start to his campaign, favorable media coverage, strong fund-raising (often surpassing that of Cruz, though most of his funding comes from outside the state), and a persistent perception that he resembles "a Kennedy," referring to the popular [[Massachusetts]] [[John F. Kennedy|family of politicians]]. ([[John F. Kennedy]] won Texas over the Republican [[Richard M. Nixon]] in 1960.) 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>
===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 won a third term in 2018 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.
===Senate campaign===
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.]]