Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke is a politician and the former U.S. Representative for the 16th congressional district in Texas. He assumed the role in January 2013 after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. O'Rourke also sought the 2020 Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

On March 13, El Paso TV station KTSM-TV reported that O'Rourke had decided to run for President in 2020. O'Rourke confirmed speculation the following day by announcing that he was entering the presidential race. However, he announced the end of his campaign for president on November 1, 2019.

In 2018, O'Rourke was nominated as a candidate for the Democratic Party in the U.S. Senate race against the Republican incumbent, Ted Cruz. When he entered the race, O'Rourke vowed to not accept PAC contributions for his campaign and to run a positive campaign instead of focusing on the negative of the opposing party. He set a record for most votes ever cast for a Democrat in Texas history.

O'Rourke campaigned in all 254 counties in Texas, and despite not accepting any PAC donations, he raised $70 million for the campaign, more than any other U.S. Senate candidate in history. Although he was considered a long shot candidate, O'Rourke was only narrowly defeated by Cruz, with 48.72 percent of the vote compared to 50.93 percent for Cruz.

Before being elected to Congress, O'Rourke served on the El Paso City Council from June 2005 to June 2011.

He attended Columbia University and graduated in 1995 with a degree in English literature. Upon graduation, O'Rourke co-founded Stanton Street Technology, an internet services and software company, in El Paso.