Beto O’Rourke Hints at Run for Texas Governor

Former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke hinted at a potential Texas gubernatorial campaign on Sunday. In early April, O’Rourke said, “I’ve got no plans to run, and I’m very focused on the things that I’m lucky enough to do right now — organizing, registering voters, and teaching. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing now.” However, on Sunday, in response to MSNBC’s Mehdi Hassan’s question asking if he’s running, O’Rourke replied, “I’m going to see this fight through to the finish, and then after that, I’m going to see how I can serve Texas either as a candidate or supporting candidates.” O’Rourke has taken zero formal steps towards a campaign but said, “one way or the other, I’m in for the distance for Texas.”

Me: “Will you be running for governor of Texas against Greg Abbott next year?” @BetoORourke: “I’m going to see this fight through to the finish and then after that I’m going to see how I can serve Texas, either as a candidate or supporting candidates. “pic.twitter.com/1Ifgm616nr

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) June 14, 2021

O’Rourke is currently leading a fight against Texas’s SB-7 bill which will create new criminal penalties for voter fraud and tighten the ability to vote non traditionally.

Next steps:

1) Call your State Rep and Senator, ask them to vote NO on final version of the bill (find their numbers here: https://t.co/f3hxH7agR1).

Though SB7 has now passed the House & Senate, the competing version have to be conferenced and voted on again in both chambers.

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) May 7, 2021

3) Join a rally for Voting Rights at the State Capitol this Saturday and raise your voice for the right to vote: https://t.co/cE1YzZdzBv

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) May 7, 2021

The Biden administration also disapproved of the GOP-led legislation, with Biden saying, “Today, Texas legislators put forth a bill that joins Georgia and Florida in advancing a state law that attacks the sacred right to vote. It’s part of an assault on democracy that we’ve seen far too often this year—and often disproportionately targeting Black and Brown Americans. It’s wrong and un-American – in the 21st century, we should be making it easier, not harder, for every eligible voter to vote.”

President Biden issues a statement on Texas’ omnibus elections bill (SB 7), renewing a call for Congress to pass the For the People Act (H.R. 1/S.1) and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4). #txlege #HR1 #S1 pic.twitter.com/xDaLUsrrbI

— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) May 29, 2021

O’Rourke has consistently attacked Governor Greg Abbott over his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to Abbott’s lifting of the statewide mask mandate, O’Rourke said, “They literally want to sacrifice the lives of our fellow Texans for, I don’t know, political gain, to satisfy certain political interests within the state.” The state of Texas, typically a Republican stronghold has shifted more and more Democrat-supporting in recent years. Donald Trump only won the state by single digits in 2016 and 2020 and Senator Ted Cruz narrowly edged out O’Rourke by 3 points in the 2018 Senatorial race.

If Governor Abbot doesn’t end up facing O’Rourke, he will still have tough competition on pro-Wall, pro-Trump Republican opponent, and former State Sen. Don Huffines. Huffines’ top issues his platform lays out are border security, election integrity, the elimination of property tax, and the fight for the conservation of Texas values. Read more on his campaign here.

Stay tuned to Media Right News for any updates in Texas.