Beto O'Rourke | |
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![]() O'Rourke in 2019 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 16th district | |
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Silvestre Reyes |
Succeeded by | Veronica Escobar |
Mayor pro tempore of El Paso | |
In office June 14, 2005 – June 20, 2006 | |
Mayor | John Cook |
Preceded by | Anthony Cobos |
Succeeded by | Presi Ortega |
Member of the El Paso City Council from the 8th district | |
In office June 1, 2005 – June 27, 2011 | |
Preceded by | Anthony Cobos |
Succeeded by | Cortney Niland |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Francis O'Rourke September 26, 1972 El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Amy Sanders (m. 2005) |
Children | 3 |
Parent(s) | Pat O'Rourke Melissa Williams |
Education | Columbia University (BA) |
Signature | ![]() |
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2018 U.S. Senate campaign
2022 gubernatorial campaign
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Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke (/ˈbɛtoʊ/ BEH-toh, also /ˈbɛdoʊ/ BED-oh; Spanish pronunciation: ['beto]; born September 26, 1972) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, O'Rourke was the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018,[1] a candidate for the presidential nomination in 2020,[2] and the party's nominee for the 2022 Texas gubernatorial election.[3]
O'Rourke was born into a local political family in El Paso, Texas, and is a graduate of Woodberry Forest School and Columbia University.[4] While studying at Columbia, he began a brief music career as bass guitarist in the post-hardcore band Foss. After his college graduation, he returned to El Paso and began a business career. In 2005, he was elected to the El Paso City Council, serving until 2011; he served as mayor pro tempore during his first year in office. O'Rourke was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 after defeating eight-term incumbent Democrat Silvestre Reyes in the primary.
After being re-elected to the House in 2014 and 2016, O'Rourke declined to seek another term in 2018. Instead, he sought the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Ted Cruz, running a competitive campaign that drew national attention. Despite losing the election to Cruz by a margin of 2.6%, O'Rourke set a record for most votes ever cast for a Democrat in a midterm election in Texas.
On March 14, 2019, O'Rourke announced his candidacy in the 2020 United States presidential election. He suspended his campaign on November 1, 2019, due to a lack of traction and financial issues. He later endorsed Joe Biden on the same day as Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg.[5]
On March 1, 2022, O'Rourke won the Democratic nomination for the Texas gubernatorial election.[6][7][8] He was defeated by Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in the general election.[9]
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