Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke last week became the 15th Democrat to throw his hat into the ring
With presidential elections still a year and eight months away, former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke last week became the 15th Democrat to throw his hat into the ring. Judging by the reaction from the mainstream press, it was a launch others could only dream about. O’Rourke hopes to bill himself as not just another pretty face, but rather as a political heavyweight with a better than average chance of winning.
O’Rourke served for three two-year terms in the US House of Representatives, and before that as an El Paso city councilman. Last November, he failed in his attempt to dislodge incumbent US Senator Ted Cruz in Texas; although O’Rourke trailed throughout the campaign, he gave Cruz a run for his money, losing only by a count of 51% to 48%. Since then he’s been out of office, focusing on high-profile cross-country road trips. Just last month he organized a hometown political rally in El Paso, across from a gathering organized by the president, who came to talk about the need to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
During the Senate race, O’Rourke broke fundraising records and attracted nationwide attention, driving himself to all 254 election districts in Texas as he posted his journey live on Facebook, occasionally stopping at fast food joints along the way. O’Rourke’s style makes him popular among young progressive voters (he’s been known to ride a skateboard at campaign stops), and media commentators compare him to former president Barack Obama.
His political stance: He opposes building a wall along the border with Mexico, supports anchoring the status of dreamers, and supports increasing gun control measures and the legalization of marijuana.
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