Beto O'Rourke

Robert Francis O'Rourke was born on September 26, 1972, at the Hotel Dieu Hospital in El Paso, Texas, to Pat O'Rourke and Melissa Martha O'Rourke.{{cite news |title=Births |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/434531110 |newspaper=El Paso Times |date=September 27, 1972 |access-date=September 22, 2018 |quote=Hotel Dieu: (Tuesday) Mr. and Mrs. Pat F. O'Rourke, 229 Fountain. boy.}} He is a fourth-generation Irish American.{{refn|{{cite news |title=Texas, 3 Ways |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/16/travel/in-houston-dallas-and-el-paso-texas-three-ways.html |newspaper=The New York Times |last=Draper |first=Robert |date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |quote=
Beto O'Rourke — whose family came over from Ireland four generations ago to work on the railroad}}{{cite news |title=Texan with Leitrim roots sets sights on the White House |url=http://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/home/370888/texan-with-leitrim-roots-sets-sights-on-the-white-house.html |newspaper=Leitrim Observer |date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=April 2, 2019}}{{cite news |title=US presidential hopeful has roots in Milford |url=http://carlow-nationalist.ie/2019/03/31/us-presidential-hopeful-has-roots-in-milford |newspaper=The Carlow Nationalist |last=Tracey |first=Michael |date=March 28, 2019 |access-date=April 2, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://s1.sos.mo.gov/records/archives/archivesdb/naturalization/Detail.aspx?id=2946 |title=Naturalization Records, 1816 – 1955 |date=October 3, 1868 |website=Missouri Digital Heritage |publisher=Missouri Secretary of State |access-date=November 5, 2018 |quote=Buchanan County Circuit Court, Final Certificate of Naturalization: O'Rourke, Bernard}}}} In his infancy, his family gave him the nickname "Beto" initially to distinguish him from his namesake grandfather.{{cite news |url=http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2018/03/09/so-he-changed-his-name-to-beto-and-hid-it-with-a-grin-on-the-deeper-purposes-of-the-cruz-jingle |title='So he changed his name to Beto and hid it with a grin.' On the deeper purposes of the Cruz jingle. |last=Tilove |first=Jonathan |date=March 9, 2018 |work=First Reading |access-date=November 3, 2018 |publisher=Austin American-Statesman |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103044543/http://politics.blog.mystatesman.com/2018/03/09/so-he-changed-his-name-to-beto-and-hid-it-with-a-grin-on-the-deeper-purposes-of-the-cruz-jingle/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/juarezs-biggest-booster-is-an-irish-american-congressman |title=Juarez's Biggest Booster Is An Irish-American Congressman |last=Stanton |first=John |date=October 14, 2014 |website=BuzzFeed News |access-date=June 24, 2016}} Pat O'Rourke served in public office in El Paso as County Commissioner and County Judge;{{Efn-la |In Texas, the position of county judge is a county's elected chief executive officer, not a judicial role.}}{{cite news |title=Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/beto-orourke/4308607c-4bb7-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921_print.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 20, 2018 |language=EN |date=December 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224235/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/beto-orourke/4308607c-4bb7-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921_print.html |archive-date=24 March 2018}} he was an associate of Texas Governor Mark White,{{cite news|url=http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Border-congressman-on-verge-of-Senate-run-10993215.php|title=Border congressman on verge of U.S. Senate run|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|last=Lambrecht|first=Bill|date=March 15, 2017|access-date=April 9, 2019}} served as the state chairman of Jesse Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns,{{cite news |last1=Viser |first1=Matt |title=Why So Many People Are Betting on Beto O'Rourke |url=http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/politics/a22554864/beto-orourke-interview-texas-senate|access-date=October 17, 2018 |magazine=Town & Country|date=July 26, 2018}} switched parties in the early 1990s, and made several failed attempts to win election to public office as a Republican.{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/09/28/rising-star-beto-orourke-eclipsed-dads-el-paso-ambitions-friends-say-still-pats-boy |title=Rising star Beto O'Rourke has eclipsed dad's El Paso ambitions, but friends say he's still Pat's boy |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |last=Garrett |first=Robert T. |date=September 28, 2018 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412135926/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/09/28/rising-star-beto-orourke-eclipsed-dads-el-paso-ambitions-friends-say-still-pats-boy |url-status=dead }} Jesse Jackson conducted a press conference on December 11, 1984, in the den of O'Rourke's boyhood home in Kern Place.{{cite news |title=Jackson wants action against apartheid |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/435839394 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Scharrer |first=Gary |date=December 12, 1984 |access-date=April 15, 2019}}{{cite news |title=English-manor aura surrounds home |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/436073703 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Davis |first=Mary Margaret |date=December 7, 1985 |access-date=November 19, 2018 |quote=In the middle of Kern Place, County Judge Pat O'Rourke, wife Melissa and their three children are surrounded by what is the United States' current favorite décor, the British country look.}}

In eighth grade, O'Rourke was introduced to punk rock through the Clash's London Calling{{nbsp}}(1979), an album he later called "a revelation".{{cite magazine |last=Stuart |first=Tessa |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/beto-orourke-band-foss-717227/ |title=Beto O'Rourke Shares the Story of His Old Band, Foss — and a Single |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 30, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003084503/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/beto-orourke-band-foss-717227/ |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |url-status=live}} By the time he was 14 or 15 years old, he started going to local punk shows. He soon discovered Dischord Records, a Washington, D.C.–based independent label with a catalog of punk music, and began reading punk zines like Maximumrocknroll and Flipside.{{cite web |last=Cush |first=Andy |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/10/beto-orourke-ted-cuz-senate-seat-interview/ |title=A Chat With Beto O'Rourke, the Ex-Punk Bassist Running for Ted Cruz's Senate Seat |website=Spin |date=October 4, 2017 |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130200402/https://www.spin.com/2017/10/beto-orourke-ted-cuz-senate-seat-interview/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}} O'Rourke felt alienated from the City of El Paso as an adolescent in the 1980s. He told The Texas Observer that, in the El Paso of his youth, "There was nothing dangerous. There was no energy. There was no risk."{{cite web |last=Hooks |first=Christopher |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/beto-orourke-congress-ted-cruz-democrats/ |title=Beto Testing |website=The Texas Observer |date=October 3, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204161822/https://www.texasobserver.org/beto-orourke-congress-ted-cruz-democrats/ |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live}} El Paso's punk scene, though small, helped O'Rourke find a sense of community in the city.

As a teenager, O'Rourke was a member of the computer hacker group Cult of the Dead Cow, named after a shut-down Lubbock slaughterhouse.{{cite news |title=Why being part of the Cult of the Dead Cow could make Beto O'Rourke a better president |url=http://www.statesman.com/blogs/20190606/why-being-part-of-cult-of-dead-cow-could-make-beto-orourke-better-president |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |last=Tilove |first=Jonathan |date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=June 8, 2019}} The group "is notorious for releasing tools that allowed ordinary people to hack computers running Microsoft's Windows". At O'Rourke's insistence, the group included female members, making it one of the few groups of that era to do so.{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/event/what-tech-giants-can-learn-hackers-ethical-lessons-cybersecurity|title=What Tech Giants Can Learn From Hackers: Ethical Lessons in Cybersecurity|date=June 3, 2019|website=Council on Foreign Relations|access-date=June 8, 2019}} O'Rourke has admitted that he stole long-distance phone service during his teen years in order to use his dial-up modem. O'Rourke wrote numerous poems and other texts for Cult of the Dead Cow under the pseudonym "Psychedelic Warlord", a name taken from a 1974 rock song by the band Hawkwind.{{cite news |last1=Menn |first1=Joseph |title=Beto O'Rourke's secret membership in America's oldest hacking group |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-politics-beto-orourke|website=Reuters|access-date=15 March 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Heffernan |first1=Virginia |title=What Beto's Weird Teenage Poetry Tells Us About His Politics |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/03/30/what-betos-poetry-tells-us-about-his-politics-226338 |access-date=31 March 2019 |work=Politico |language=en}}{{cite news|title=Beto O'Rourke wins the endorsement of the original 'Psychedelic Warlord,' David Brock|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/beto-o-rourke-wins-endorsement-original-psychedelic-warlord-david-brock-n998111|website=NBC News|last1=Haake|first1=Garrett|last2=Siemaszko|first2=Corky|date=April 24, 2019|access-date=April 24, 2019}} O'Rourke has expressed regret over some fictional short stories he wrote as a teenager for the cDc private online forum which included sexual and violent themes.

O'Rourke began his education at Escuela Montessori Del Valle preschool and continued to Rivera and Mesita Elementary Schools.{{cite web|title=Texas debate: Beto O'Rourke bio and background |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/texas-debate/texas-debate-beto-orourke-bio-and-background/285-604466602 |website=KHOU |access-date=October 20, 2018 |date=October 12, 2018}} In 1988, after two years at El Paso High School,{{cite news|title=El Paso High celebrates alumni O'Rourke's Presidential bid|url=http://www.ktsm.com/news/politics/el-paso-high-celebrates-alumni-orourkes-presidential-bid|newspaper=KTSM|last=Seyffert|first=Estefania|access-date=March 24, 2019}} he enrolled in Woodberry Forest School, an all-male boarding school in Madison County, Virginia.{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/02/19/beto-orourkes-high-school-past-trumps-chances-2020-blackface-ut-laura-millers-return|title=Beto O'Rourke's high school past|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|last=Hancock|first=Jamie|date=February 19, 2019|access-date=February 28, 2019}} O'Rourke attended Columbia University, where in his junior year he co-captained Columbia's heavyweight rowing crew.{{cite web |url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2018/11/01/punk-rocker-rower-under-the-radar-student-beto-orourkes-time-at-columbia |title=Punk rocker, rower, under-the-radar student: Beto O'Rourke's time at Columbia |last1=Buzbee |first1=Emma |last2=Percy |first2=Noah |date=November 1, 2018 |newspaper=Columbia Daily Spectator |access-date=November 2, 2018 |language=en-US}} He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature.{{cite news |url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/beto-o'rourke--TX-H |title=Beto O'Rourke (D) |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=January 3, 2013 |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729224923/http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/beto-o'rourke--TX-H |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20687030/new-reyes-ad-attacks-orourkes-character |title=New Silvestre Reyes ad attacks Beto O'Rourke's character |last=Roberts |first=Chris |date=May 23, 2012 |work=El Paso Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140919020110/http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20687030/new-reyes-ad-attacks-orourkes-character |archive-date=September 19, 2014 |url-status=dead}} He is fluently bilingual in English and Spanish.

{{Main|Foss (band)}}

{{quote box |align=right |width=350px |quoted=1 |quote=For me, it was a great opportunity to see the country. You literally were playing for gas money, in a bar, in a club, or in somebody's basement, and that would take you to the next town and the next show.|source=– O'Rourke on his experience in the band Foss{{cite web |last=Neff|first=Blake|title=For O'Rourke, border a plus not a minus |url=https://thehill.com/capital-living/new-member-of-the-week/201474-for-orourke-border-a-plus-not-a-minus/|access-date=February 6, 2019 |language=en |date=March 24, 2014 |newspaper=The Hill}}}}

O'Rourke had a brief career in music during his college years.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/beto-orourke-band-foss-717227/|title=Beto O'Rourke Shares the Story of His Old Band, Foss — and a Single|last1=Stuart|first1=Tessa|date=2018-08-30|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-18}} He joined his first band, called Swipe, after he left El Paso to attend Columbia University in New York. Swipe played shows at bars and clubs in New York and once opened for the Olympia, Washington{{endash}}based punk band Fitz of Depression.{{cite web |last=Lambrecht |first=Bill |url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Border-congressman-on-verge-of-Senate-run-10993215.php |title=Border congressman on verge of U.S. Senate run |website=San Antonio Express-News |date=March 15, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190208234819/https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Border-congressman-on-verge-of-Senate-run-10993215.php |archive-date=February 8, 2019 |url-status=live}}

After being introduced to Bad Brains as a teen,{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Dan |title=Top 10: Beto O'Rourke |url=http://whatsuppub.com/music/article_bb8df8de-5cea-53fe-8eda-1f6e842fff4b.html |website=What's Up |access-date=November 14, 2018 |language=en |date=March 7, 2007 |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212211330/http://whatsuppub.com/music/article_bb8df8de-5cea-53fe-8eda-1f6e842fff4b.html |url-status=dead }} O'Rourke became a fan of punk music. O'Rourke and two friends from El Paso, Mike Stevens and Arlo Klahr, learned to play musical instruments; O'Rourke took up the bass. In 1991, while at Columbia University, the trio recruited drummer Cedric Bixler-Zavala (eventual vocalist for At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta), and together they formed the band Foss.{{cite web |title=Foss |url=https://myspace.com/fossband |website=MySpace |access-date=November 12, 2018}} During the summer, they toured the United States and Canada, garnering the support of Feist. The group released a self-titled demo and a 7-inch record, "The El Paso Pussycats", on Western Breed Records in 1993.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/10/beto-orourke-ted-cuz-senate-seat-interview/ |title=A Chat With Beto O'Rourke, the Ex-Punk Bassist Running for Ted Cruz's Senate Seat |last=Cush |first=Andy |date=October 4, 2017 |work=Spin |access-date=March 1, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Cepeda |first1=Eduardo |title=What It Was Like to Be In a Punk Band With Beto O'Rourke, According to Cedric Bixler-Zavala |url=http://remezcla.com/features/music/beto-orourke-punk-band-foss-cedric-bixler-zavala/ |website=Remezcla |access-date=November 13, 2018 |date=September 2018}}

O'Rourke also played drums in the band Swedes, who released an album called Summer in 1995.{{cite web |last1=Arcand |first1=Rob |title=Beto O'Rourke Unearths 1993 Single with Cedric Bixler-Zavala: Listen |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/08/beto-orourke-rise-1993-single-at-the-drive-in-cedric-bixler-zavala/ |website=Spin |access-date=November 14, 2018 |date=August 30, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Napolin |first1=Julie Beth |title=Summer, by the swedes |url=https://swedes1.bandcamp.com/releases |website=the swedes |access-date=November 14, 2018}} O'Rourke and ex-members of Foss later started two other bands, a rock group called Fragile Gang and a cover band called The Sheeps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/01/heres-video-of-beto-orourke-singing-blitzkrieg-bop-in-a-sheep-mask-and-a-onesie/|title=We found video of Beto O'Rourke singing the Ramones in a sheep mask and a white onesie|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-21}}

The DIY ethos O'Rourke had first encountered in the punk scene informed some of his later political decisions, such as his Senate campaign's pledge not to accept financial contributions from PACs (political action committees).{{cite web |last=Stein |first=Jeff |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/9/16375182/beto-orourke-ted-cruz-senate |title='Sometimes a Hail Mary works': meet the Democrat trying to beat Ted Cruz in Texas |date=October 9, 2017 |access-date=February 7, 2019 |website=Vox |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209123917/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/9/16375182/beto-orourke-ted-cruz-senate |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}

After graduation, O'Rourke worked as a live-in caretaker and art mover before working for an Internet service provider run by his uncle.{{cite news |url=https://kfoxtv.com/news/special-assignments/controlling-cyberspace-whats-at-stake-with-net-neutrality |title=Controlling Cyberspace: What's at stake with net neutrality |work=KFOX-TV |access-date=March 31, 2017}} He later took a position at H. W. Wilson Company as a proofreader, and wrote short stories and songs in his free time.

O'Rourke returned to El Paso in 1998.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-texas-826727 |title=Meet Beto O'Rourke, the Texas punk rocker who could beat Ted Cruz |website=Newsweek |date=March 6, 2018 |access-date=September 14, 2018}} At first, he was working with computers as an inventory tracker at his mother's upscale furniture store and living in an apartment building owned by his father. O'Rourke said he wanted to address "brain-drain", or the exodus of youth caused by lack of opportunity.{{cite news|url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/01/the-inside-story-of-beto-orourkes-short-lived-alt-weekly|title=The Inside Story of Beto O'Rourke's Short-Lived Alt-Weekly|magazine=Mother Jones|last=Murphy|first=Tim|date=January 28, 2019|access-date=April 16, 2019}} In 2000, he co-founded Stanton Street Technology Group, an Internet services and software company.{{failed verification|date=January 2022}} With O'Rourke himself unable to obtain a loan, his father took out a $20,000 loan on his behalf.{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} O'Rourke's wife, Amy, operated the business until June 2017.{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/03/31/beto-orourke-launches-2018-senate-campaign-underdog-bid-challenge-ted-cruz |title=Beto O'Rourke launches 2018 Senate campaign in underdog bid to unseat Ted Cruz |last1=Lovegrove |first1=Jamie |date=March 31, 2017 |website=Dallas News |access-date=March 31, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stantonstreet.com/blog/stanton-street-announces-new-ownership/|title=Stanton Street announces new owership|date=June 7, 2017|last=Dhillon|first=Naomi|access-date=September 17, 2019|website=Stanton Street}} For a few years, the company also published an online newspaper, also called Stanton Street; the paper was a mix of arts and entertainment reviews, restaurant reviews and opinion columns that O'Rourke modeled on alternative periodicals like The Village Voice and New York Press. The company made a co-marketing agreement with local TV station, KTSM-TV, allowing StantonStreet.Com and the station's Internet site to share content and TV ads.{{cite news |title=Online magazine dream helps drive publisher's efforts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/432017403 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Kolenc |first=Vic |date=July 6, 2000 |access-date=April 11, 2019}} KTSM's then news director, Eric Pearson, was O'Rourke's brother-in-law.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/432211824 |title=Engagements: O'Rourke–Pearson |date=May 6, 2001 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |quote=Her fiancé is a news director for KTSM News Channel 9.}}

O'Rourke was involved with El Paso civic organizations and nonprofit groups, such as the Rotary Club, United Way, and Center Against Sexual and Family Violence. He was a member of the boards of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Institute for Policy and Economic Development at UTEP.{{cite news |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/432381309/ |title=52 under 40 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Gilot |first=Louie |date=January 6, 2004 |access-date=November 5, 2018}}

During his childhood, O'Rourke accompanied his father Pat at campaign stops and other political events. While Pat was charismatic and outgoing, his son was more reserved. Pat would nudge Beto, suggesting he introduce himself to someone. O'Rourke recalled, "I was an awkward and shy kid, so it was the last thing I wanted to do, but now I can look back and bless my experience in it."{{cite news|url=http://www.yahoo.com/news/like-ted-cruz-beto-orourke-fiery-charismatic-father-similarities-end-090017531.html|title=Like Ted Cruz, Beto O'Rourke had a fiery, charismatic father. The similarities end there..|newspaper=Yahoo! News |last=Bailey |first=Holly |date=October 2, 2018 |access-date=December 2, 2019}} "Interestingly, his father was involved politically in El Paso growing up, and Beto would go to events...but I never saw Beto engaged with that arena," his mother recalled.{{cite news|title=Becoming Beto: O'Rourke family shares candidate's upbringing|url=http://www.ktsm.com/news/politics/becoming-beto-orourke-family-shares-candidates-upbringing|newspaper=KTSM|last=Seyffert|first=Estefania|date=March 18, 2019|access-date=March 24, 2019}} O'Rourke cites his work on his magazine, not boyhood exposure to politics, as the reason behind his initial political ideas and ambitions.

O'Rourke was inspired by the successful 2001 mayoral run of Ray Caballero, whose platform promoted the idea that El Paso was great. When Caballero failed to get re-elected, O'Rourke considered running for office.

{{see also|Electoral history of Beto O'Rourke}}

In mid-2005, O'Rourke ran for the El Paso City Council on a platform of downtown development and border reform.{{cite news |last1=Terris |first1=Ben |title=Beto O'Rourke is a Mexico-loving liberal in Texas. Can he really beat Ted Cruz? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/beto-orourke-is-a-mexico-loving-liberal-in-texas-can-he-really-beat-ted-cruz/2017/02/21/868848ee-f482-11e6-8d72-263470bf0401_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=14 March 2019 |date=February 21, 2017}}

O'Rourke defeated two-term incumbent City Councilman Anthony Cobos, 57–43%.{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=765554 |title=El Paso City Council District 8 Race – May 07, 2005 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=May 20, 2013}}{{cite web |url=https://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/2005generalelection.asp?print=true |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805203252/https://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/2005generalelection.asp?print=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |title=2005 General Election |publisher=City of El Paso |access-date=May 20, 2013}} Byrd and Ortega were also elected; along with O'Rourke, they came to be referred to as "The Progressives". O'Rourke is one of the youngest representatives ever to have served on the City Council.{{cite web |url=http://elpasoinc.com/readArticle.aspx?issueid=264&xrec=4774&usg=AFQjCNFSnn6Ttew7MNl3_cNlwpzfGp7Ntw |title=Beto O'Rourke: Why he's not running |access-date=February 24, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710184418/http://elpasoinc.com/readArticle.aspx?issueid=264&xrec=4774&usg=AFQjCNFSnn6Ttew7MNl3_cNlwpzfGp7Ntw |work=El Paso Inc. |archive-date=July 10, 2011}} In 2007, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Trini Acevedo, 70–30%.{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=765553 |title=Our Campaigns – El Paso City Council District 8 Race – May 12, 2007 |work=ourcampaigns.com}}{{cite web |url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/election/ci_5897513 |title=Low turnout not as big a surprise as voting trends |work=El Paso Times}} {{dead link |date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

On June 14, 2005, at his first city council meeting, O'Rourke was chosen as mayor pro tem by unanimous vote.{{cite news |title=Council draws terms, picks mayor pro tem |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/432334544 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Crowder |first=David |date=June 15, 2005 |access-date=April 7, 2019}} The mayor pro tem represents the city at meetings and ceremonial occasions when the mayor is unavailable, presides over City Council in the mayor's absence, appoints council members to legislative review committees and generally works in concert with the mayor in a leadership capacity. On June 20, 2006, he relinquished the position, saying, "I said I would take it on condition that someone else would it in a year. ... I hope it becomes a new tradition that every year, a new mayor pro tem is elected."{{cite news |title=O'Rourke to give up pro tem position |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/432275610 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Crowder |first=David |date=June 15, 2005 |access-date=April 7, 2019}}

O'Rourke was a supporter of a redevelopment plan for a depressed area of El Paso's business district with a high vacancy rate, which was also supported by Mayor John Cook and fellow City Councilwoman Susie Byrd.{{cite news |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/2483-eminent-disaster-a-cabal-of-politicians-and-profiteers-targets-an-el-paso-barrio/ |title=Eminent Disaster |last=Welsome |first=Eileen |work=Texas Observer}} The initiative faced opposition from a small group of small businesses and Chicano activists who expressed concern about gentrification and the potential use of eminent domain. O'Rourke responded with an on-foot campaign to residents of the neighborhood and was met with support as well as some cynicism. An activist initiated a recall campaign against O'Rourke (which O'Rourke won), and a few downtown property owners filed two ethics complaints against him; the complaints were dismissed as unfounded. Ultimately, owing to the start of the Great Recession in the United States, the redevelopment plans were only partially realized.{{cite news |title=Downtown plan Land Grab Opponents using stall tactics |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/432390718 |newspaper=El Paso Times |date=September 7, 2006 |access-date=May 27, 2019}}{{cite news |title=City rep moves past barrage of unfounded ethics charges |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/432337945 |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=O'Rourke |first=Beto |date=October 22, 2006 |access-date=May 27, 2019}}

In January 2009, O'Rourke sponsored a resolution calling for "comprehensive examination" of the War on Drugs and "the repeal of ineffective marijuana laws". The resolution, unanimously supported by his colleagues on the El Paso City Council, was vetoed by Mayor John Cook.{{Cite news |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2009-01-12/724951/ |title=El Paso Council Wants to End the War on Drugs |last=Smith |first=Jordan |date=January 12, 2009 |work=The Austin Chronicle |access-date=July 2, 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2009/09/24/el-pasos-small-step |title=El Paso's small step |date=September 24, 2009 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=July 2, 2018}} O'Rourke told reporters the reason he spoke up about the War on Drugs was the thousands of people who had been killed in the nearby city of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico.{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/18/rep-silvestre-reyes-beto-orourke_n_1433025.html |title=Rep. Silvestre Reyes, Challenger Beto O'Rourke Square Off Over Drug War In Fierce Texas Primary |last=Sledge |first=Matt |date=April 18, 2012 |work=Huffington Post |access-date=July 2, 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/18/world/americas/popes-presence-crosses-border-into-us-even-if-he-doesnt.html |title=Pope's Presence Crosses Border Into U.S., Even if He Doesn't |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |date=February 17, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 23, 2016}} He said, "I hope it has all had its intended effect of starting the national discussion of the wisdom of the War on Drugs...and probably more importantly, helping to bring about a better solution than the status quo, which has led to the terror and tragedy in Juarez."{{cite web |last=Crowder |first=David |date=January 9, 2009 |url=http://newspapertree.com/news/3300-o-rourke-in-national-headlights-over-12-words-in-drug-war-resolution |title=O'Rourke in national headlights over 12 words in Drug War resolution |publisher=Newspaper Tree |archive-date=March 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307225620/http://www.newspapertree.com/news/3300-o-rourke-in-national-headlights-over-12-words-in-drug-war-resolution |access-date=April 2, 2017 |url-status=dead}}

{{Main|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas#District 16}}

In 2012, O'Rourke filed for the Democratic primary against the eight-term Silvestre Reyes to represent Texas's 16th congressional district. The primary was seen as the real contest in the heavily Democratic, Latino-majority district.{{cite news |url=https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/texas-congressman-defeated-in-democratic-primary/ |title=House Democrat Is Defeated in Texas Primary |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |date=May 30, 2012 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 23, 2016}} Byrd ran O'Rourke's field operation and Escobar was head of communication. O'Rourke won 50.5 percent of the vote, just a few hundred votes above the threshold required to avoid a runoff against Reyes.{{cite news |last1=Weiner |first1=Rachel |title=Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) defeated by Beto O'Rourke |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/rep-silvestre-reyes-d-tex-defeated-by-beto-orourke/2012/05/30/gJQAM6cS1U_blog.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 12, 2018 |language=en |date=May 30, 2012}} He was contrasted with Reyes in his support for LGBT rights and drug liberalization.{{cite news |url=http://www.dallasvoice.com/newly-sworn-west-texas-congressman-lgbt-ally|title=El Paso's Beto O'Rourke among strongest new LGBT allies in Congress|last=Taffet |first=David |date=January 4, 2013 |work=Dallas Voice |access-date=June 24, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.fronterasdesk.org/content/west-texas-congressional-race-could-yield-surprises |title=West Texas Congressional Race Could Yield Surprises |last=Ortiz Uribe |first=Mónica |date=May 14, 2012 |work=Fronteras |access-date=June 24, 2016 |publisher=KJZZ}} His campaign was largely on foot, and he reportedly knocked on 16,000 doors. He defeated his Republican opponent, Barbara Carrasco, in the general election with 65 percent of the vote.{{cite web |url=https://www.texastribune.org/directory/districts/us-house/16/ |title=U.S. House District 16 |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=July 2, 2018}} Upon O'Rourke's election, the district was no longer represented in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a 26-member group established in 1976, because he lacks Hispanic heritage.{{cite web |last1=Aguilar |first1=Julián |title=El Paso Lawmaker Can't Join Hispanic Caucus; Some Seek Rule Change |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/24/city-el-paso-lacks-voice-hispanic-caucus/ |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=November 14, 2018 |language=en |date=July 24, 2013}} As the district was 80 percent Hispanic, with 77.6 percent of Hispanics being of voting-age, some officials, including David Austin, the El Paso–based border representative for the U.S./Mexico Border Counties Coalition, argued that he should be permitted to join. For his part, O'Rourke said he respected the caucus's bylaws.

As a Congressman, he held at least one town hall meeting every month. In March 2013, O'Rourke and Republican Steve Pearce of New Mexico introduced the Border Enforcement Accountability, Oversight, and Community Engagement Act, legislation proposed to establish an ombudsman within the Department of Homeland Security that would investigate allegations of violence and civil-rights violations by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, create a commission that would overview the agency's policies and provide insight on how to spend its $18 billion annual budget, increase the training required for officers and agents, and establish protocols under which the CBP would be required to report deaths at the border or agents' use of force.{{cite journal |last1=Caplan-Bricker |first1=Nora |title=The Bipartisan Border-Abuse Bill Congress Is Ignoring |journal=National Journal |date=October 4, 2014 |page=1}} He co-sponsored the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, which was enacted in 2014. Notably, Section 506 allowed the CBP to enter into public-private partnerships with local entities to help fund overtime pay to customs officers at ports of entry, which helped fund the personnel to lower wait times at the border. El Paso was one of five cities chosen to participate in the program.{{cite journal |last1=Rasmussen |first1=Patty |title=Moving Along |journal=Site Selection |date=July 2014 |volume=59 |issue=4 |page=102}}

{{Main|2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas#District 16}}

During his bid for re-election in the fall of 2014, O'Rourke donated at least $28,000 from his own campaign funds to fellow Democratic candidates for House seats.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/03/upshot/house-democrats-dig-deep-for-cash-from-their-colleagues-campaigns.html |title=House Democrats Dig Deep for Cash, From Their Colleagues' Campaigns |last=Willis |first=Derek |date=November 2, 2014 |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 23, 2016}} O'Rourke was re-elected in 2014 with 67 percent of the vote.

In November 2014, O'Rourke opposed Obama's deferred action policy that used an executive action to bypass Congress in order to spare approximately 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation, saying "the motive is noble, but the means are really hard to stomach."{{cite news |last1=Terris |first1=Ben |title=Stuck Singing Backup |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 22, 2014}}

O'Rourke was one of six members of Congress who took a six-day trip to Israel that included meetings with Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators, political leaders and residents.{{cite web |last1=Borunda |first1=Daniel |title=U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke talks about Israel trip |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/2015/05/11/u-s-rep-beto-orourke-talks-about-israel/31260475/ |website=El Paso Times |access-date=November 21, 2018 |language=en |date=May 11, 2015}} O'Rourke's previous decisions to vote against U.S. funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system and not attend Israel's prime minister's address to Congress had been controversial; the bill was easily passed in the House, with a 395–8 vote. While saying he was not against funding the project, he was reluctant to support sending $225 million to Israel without any debate or discussion, and said that the US's policy of "unequivocal support at times has been damaging to Israel."

{{Main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas#District 16}}

In June 2016, O'Rourke endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, being one of the last Democratic congressmen to support her during the primary.{{cite journal |last1=Murphy |first1=Tim |title=Houston, We Have Progress |journal=Mother Jones |date=September–October 2017 |volume=42 |issue=5 |pages=24–65 |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/09/beto-orourke-democrats-texas-ted-cruz/ |access-date=November 12, 2018}} As a sitting member of Congress, O'Rourke was a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention.{{cite news |url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/10/rep-beto-orourke-endorses-hillary-clinton/85709174 |title=Rep. Beto O'Rourke endorses Hillary Clinton |last1=Moore |first1=Robert |date=June 10, 2016 |work=El Paso Times |access-date=June 23, 2016}} In October 2015, O'Rourke announced his bid for a third term in 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2015/10/13/congressman-orourke-seek-reelection/73891780/ |title=Congressman O'Rourke to seek re-election |last=Valdez |first=Diana Washington |date=October 13, 2015 |work=El Paso Times |access-date=June 24, 2016}} He won the Democratic primary and defeated his Green and Libertarian opponents in the general election.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/texas-house-district-16 |title=Texas U.S. House 16th District Results: Beto O'Rourke Wins |date=August 1, 2017 |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 2, 2018}} When Nancy Pelosi faced a leadership challenge from Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, O'Rourke backed Ryan.{{cite news |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/09/23/orourke-praises-pelosi-doesnt-want-her-help-senate-bid/ |title=O'Rourke praises Pelosi but doesn't want her help in Senate bid |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=September 23, 2017 |work=The Texas Tribune |access-date=March 16, 2018}} O'Rourke said that he believed in term limits, and therefore that it was time for new leadership. He had given himself a term limit in the House, and promised not to serve any more than 12 years in the Senate if elected.

In 2017, the congressman, along with Steve Pearce of New Mexico and Eric Swalwell of California, sponsored the American Families United Act, which promoted the idea that US citizens have the right to sponsor their spouses for legal immigration.{{cite journal |title=Most Neglected Constituency in Immigration Reform: Are US Citizens The Key? |journal=PR Newswire |date=February 15, 2017 |location=Washington}}

O'Rourke gave up his congressional seat to run for Senate in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/latino/434072-orourke-nabs-2020-endorsement-from-his-successor-in-congress/|title=O'Rourke nabs 2020 endorsement from his successor in Congress|first=Meghashyam|last=Mali|date=March 14, 2019|website=The Hill}}

• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
• Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

• New Democrat Coalition{{cite web |url=https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members |title=Members |publisher=New Democrat Coalition |access-date=February 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208100356/https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
• Congressional Arts Caucus{{cite web|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|title=Membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

{{Main|2018 United States Senate election in Texas}}

[[File:2018 United States Senate election in Texas results map by county.svg|thumb|right|Final results by county in 2018:{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Ted Cruz}}|{{legend|#a80000|>90%}}|{{legend|#C21B18|80–90%}}|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}|

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#7996e2|Beto O'Rourke}}|||{{legend|#584cde|70–80%}}|{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}|{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}|{{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}}

}}

]]

As O'Rourke was considering entering the 2018 U.S. Senate race in Texas, political experts considered him a "longshot" candidate.{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Reid J. |title=Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke Launches Longshot Senate Challenge to Ted Cruz |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democratic-congressman-launches-longshot-senate-challenge-to-ted-cruz-1490976301 |website=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=October 19, 2018 |date=March 31, 2017}} Ben Terris of The Washington Post said he was suffering from a "bug" causing "mass delusions that the old rules of politics no longer apply." He asked, "Can a Democrat really win in this deeply red state—against Cruz, who will be running one of the best-financed campaigns in the country? And can he do so on a positive message about Mexicans in an era when calling them rapists helped make a man president?"

No Democrat had been elected to statewide office in Texas since 1994.{{cite news|last1=Benson |first1=Eric |title=What Makes Beto Run?/Does Beto O'Rourke Stand a Chance Against Ted Cruz? |date=January 2018 |newspaper=Texas Monthly|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/makes-beto-orourke-run/|pages=78–108}} On March 31, 2017, O'Rourke formally announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat held by incumbent Republican Ted Cruz.{{cite news |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/03/29/beto-orourke-senate/ |title=Rep. Beto O'Rourke to launch Senate run against Ted Cruz Friday |last=Livingston |first=Abby |date=March 29, 2017 |work=The Texas Tribune |access-date=November 11, 2017}} In March 2018, O'Rourke became the Democratic Party nominee, winning 61.8 percent of the primary vote.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/texas-primary-election |title=Texas Primary Election Results |last1=Lee |first1=Jasmine C. |date=March 7, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=March 7, 2018 |last2=Almukthar |first2=Sarah |last3=Bloch |first3=Matthew}} O'Rourke campaigned in all of Texas's 254 counties.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/09/beto-o-rourke-ted-cruz-texas-254-counties/|title=Texas has 254 counties. Beto O'Rourke has campaigned against Ted Cruz in each of them.|first=David|last=Yaffe-Bellany|date=June 9, 2018|website=The Texas Tribune}} He said he planned to run a positive campaign, not focused on Donald Trump or Ted Cruz.

File:Beto Rally in Austin 1.jpg, November 2018]]

O'Rourke's campaign received significant national attention for its ability to draw large crowds and extensive use of social media. He ran his campaign without professional pollsters or consultants, and relied on volunteers with no experience running a political campaign.{{cite web |last1=Alberta |first1=Tim |title=Did Beto Blow It? |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/11/04/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-texas-senate-2018-election-222188 |website=Politico |access-date=November 15, 2018 |language=en |date=November 4, 2018}} His campaign employed the use of mass text messages.{{cite news |last1=Roose |first1=Kevin |title=Candidates Enter The Texting Era With a Plea: Will U Vote 4 Me? |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 2, 2018 |volume=167 |issue=58042 |pages=B1–B4 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/technology/campaign-text-messages.html |access-date=November 26, 2018}} According to the 2018 third-quarter report from the FEC, his campaign spent {{USD}}7.3 million on digital advertising alone (in contrast with Cruz's $251,000).{{cite web |last1=Cunningham |first1=Meg |title=Beto O'Rourke is taking advantage of the digital ad spending trend |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/beto-orourke-taking-advantage-digital-ad-spending-trend/story?id=58517176 |website=ABC News |access-date=November 14, 2018 |language=en |date=October 16, 2018}} His first ad was filmed on an iPhone.

O'Rourke often highlighted his days as a rock musician with Foss in interviews.{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Holly |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/beto-orourke-suicide-mission-ted-cruz-time-life-might-even-come-alive-090027508.html |title=Beto O'Rourke, on a 'suicide mission' against Ted Cruz, is having the time of his life—and might even come out of it alive |date=August 18, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2019 |publisher=Yahoo! News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209132125/https://www.yahoo.com/news/beto-orourke-suicide-mission-ted-cruz-time-life-might-even-come-alive-090027508.html |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live}} By March 2018, Dan Solomon of Texas Monthly remarked that O'Rourke "seemingly can't escape a single profile without the words 'punk rock Democrat' appearing in the headline".{{cite web |last=Solomon |first=Dan |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/beto-orourke-sxsw/ |title=Beto O'Rourke's Campaign Strategy Isn't Changing |date=March 10, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2019 |website=Texas Monthly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124136/https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/beto-orourke-sxsw/ |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live}} Political observers and journalists felt that O'Rourke's punk past became an important element of his image and political outlook.{{cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Manny |date=November 26, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/us/beto-2020-presidential-bid.html |title=Beto O'Rourke Says He Isn't Ruling Out 2020 Presidential Bid |website=The New York Times |access-date=February 7, 2019 |quote=Mr. O'Rourke stood out in the 2018 midterm campaign as an unusually charismatic figure and speaker—a former punk rock bassist who became a businessman and City Council member before entering Congress. |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190212212742/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/us/beto-2020-presidential-bid.html |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Rice |first=Andrew |date=November 7, 2018 |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/beto-orourke-and-the-limits-of-charisma.html |title=Beto O'Rourke and the Limits of Charisma |website=New York |access-date=February 7, 2019 |quote=O'Rourke, a former musician, started the campaign talking about his 'punk rock' campaign philosophy, vowing to refuse corporate donations and touring Texas by van, as likely to appear at a honky-tonk bar as the Rotary Club. By the end, he was playing arena shows ... In politics, any mildly compelling candidate is apt to be called a 'rock star,' but O'Rourke actually performed like one. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107221936/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/beto-orourke-and-the-limits-of-charisma.html |archive-date=January 7, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Zurcher |first=Anthony |date=April 4, 2018 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43645458 |title=The place that tells you everything about US politics |work=BBC News |access-date=February 8, 2019 |quote=O'Rourke himself is a former punk rocker who cut a few albums and toured the US as the bass guitarist in the band Foss. He's still got a bit of that rocker edge, sprinkling some choice obscenities into his speeches and even media interviews. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214061613/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43645458 |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |url-status=live}} In an op-ed for The New York Times, Mimi Swartz expressed her belief that O'Rourke's former membership in a punk band had likely boosted his appeal with millennials.{{cite web |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=May 19, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/opinion/beto-orourke-ted-cruz-texas-senate-race.html |title=Opinion: Why Texas Democrats Are Betting on Beto O'Rourke |website=The New York Times |access-date=February 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170520164201/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/19/opinion/beto-orourke-ted-cruz-texas-senate-race.html |archive-date=May 20, 2017 |url-status=live}}

O'Rourke posted to social media daily, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and livestreamed his activities traveling the state, such as skateboarding in a Whataburger parking lot, washing clothes at a laundromat, and "blockwalking" in his constituents' neighborhoods.{{cite web |last1=Guynn |first1=Jessica |last2=Jervis |first2=Rick |last3=Schnaars |first3=Christopher |title=The Facebook candidate: Beto O'Rourke's social media savvy fuels long-shot Ted Cruz challenge |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/10/26/facebook-puts-beto-orourke-voters-faces-bid-unseat-ted-cruz/1754371002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=November 14, 2018 |language=en |format=October 26, 2018}} He encouraged supporters to post selfies they had taken with him to social media. Some of his videos went viral, including his position on NFL players "taking a knee" and police brutality against unarmed black men.{{cite web |last1=MCAFEE |first1=TIERNEY |title=Rep. Beto O'Rourke Defends NFL Protests in Viral Video: 'I Can Think of Nothing More American' |url=https://people.com/politics/rep-beto-orourke-defends-nfl-protests-viral-video/ |website=People |access-date=November 14, 2018 |language=en |date=August 23, 2018}} Supporters said O'Rourke's "promise of compassion", more than any specific policy position, drew their support.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jenna |title=Why so many people are coming to see Beto O'Rourke: A revolt against Trump and a demand for compassion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-demand-from-texas-voters-in-the-era-of-trump-compassion/2018/08/30/f26cc678-a077-11e8-83d2-70203b8d7b44_story.html |date=August 30, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 23, 2018}}

O'Rourke pledged not to accept PAC contributions for his Senate campaign. He raised $2 million within the first three months, mostly from small donations.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/13/beto-orourke-ted-cruz-challenger-fundraising/475106001/ |title=Democratic congressman raises $2M in bid against Sen. Ted Cruz |last=Mekelburg |first=Madlin |date=July 13, 2017 |work=USA Today |access-date=November 11, 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2017/jul/27/beto-orourke/beto-orourke-claims-near-uniqueness-not-taking-cor/ |title=Beto O'Rourke claims near-uniqueness in not taking corporate or PAC contributions |last1=Rahman |first1=Fauzeya |date=July 27, 2017 |work=Politifact |access-date=May 11, 2018}} During the campaign, PolitiFact rated his claim of not taking PAC money as "true".{{Cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2018/aug/20/beto-orourke/beto-orourke-says-he-doesnt-accept-pac-donations/ |title=Beto O'Rourke says he doesn't take PAC donations |work=PolitiFact |access-date=August 27, 2018 |language=en}} He received his first major organizational endorsement from End Citizens United in June 2017,{{Cite news |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/06/26/funded-anti-citizens-united-group-backs-orourke-senate-challenge-cruz |title=Well-funded anti-Citizens United group backs O'Rourke in Senate challenge against Cruz |last=Lovegrove |first=Jamie |date=June 2017 |work=Dallas News |access-date=July 15, 2018 |archive-date=July 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715235957/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/06/26/funded-anti-citizens-united-group-backs-orourke-senate-challenge-cruz |url-status=dead }} which found that he had raised triple the funds of Cruz without accepting corporate special interest money.{{Cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/beto-orourke-outraised-ted-cruz-special-interest-money-2018-2 |title=A Democrat no one's heard of just raised triple the amount Ted Cruz did, despite rejecting special interest money |last=Relman |first=Eliza |date=March 1, 2018 |work=Business Insider }} In the second quarter of 2018, he raised $10.4 million to Cruz's $4.6 million, with each candidate having raised $23 million by September 1. O'Rourke raised more than $38 million in the third quarter, three times Cruz's totals for the same period.{{cite web |last1=Svitek |first1=Patrick |title=Beto O'Rourke raised more than $38 million in the third quarter alone — a record that's about three times Ted Cruz's haul |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/12/beto-orourke-raised-more-38-million-race-against-ted-cruz/ |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=October 20, 2018 |language=en |date=October 12, 2018}} It is the most raised in a U.S. Senate race in history. According to his campaign, the donations came from 802,836 individual contributions, mostly from Texas. When asked if he would share the funds with Democrats in other races, he declined, saying that he wanted to honor "the commitment that those who've contributed to this campaign have made to me."{{cite web |last1=Burke |first1=Michael |title=Beto O'Rourke will not share $38 million he raised with other Dem Senate candidates |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/411553-beto-orourke-will-not-share-38-million-he-raised-with-other-dem-senate/ |website=The Hill |access-date=October 20, 2018 |language=en |date=October 15, 2018}} O'Rourke raised $80 million for the campaign, which was the highest amount ever raised by a U.S. Senate candidate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/beto-orourke-eyeing-white-house-after-losing-senate-race|title=Beto O'Rourke eyeing White House after losing Senate race|first=Colin|last=Reed|date=December 26, 2018|website=Fox News}}

File:Beto Rally at the Pan American Neighborhood Park, Austin, TX (45724411581).jpg

The first of three scheduled debates between O'Rourke and Ted Cruz took place on September 21, 2018. The candidates disagreed on gun rights, immigration, marijuana, the "take a knee" controversy, and the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. At the end of the debate, the moderator asked the candidates to "say something nice about each other". O'Rourke praised Cruz's parenting. Cruz compared O'Rourke to Bernie Sanders, saying he "admired [his] willingness to stand up for socialist beliefs and high taxes." O'Rourke replied, "True to form."{{cite web |last1=Dartunorro |first1=Clark |title=Cruz, O'Rourke clash on issues — and get personal — in feisty first debate for Texas Senate seat |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/cruz-o-rourke-clash-issues-get-personal-feisty-first-debate-n912131 |website=CNN |date=September 22, 2018 |access-date=September 22, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Arkin |first1=James |title=Cruz, O'Rourke clash in raucous Texas Senate debate |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/21/cruz-orourke-texas-senate-debate-836409 |website=Politico |date=September 21, 2018|access-date=September 22, 2018}} Analysts described Cruz as more experienced and aggressive, but said O'Rourke won over the crowd.{{cite news |last1=Fernandez |first1=Manny |last2=Ferman |first2=Mitchell |title=Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke Debate Who Is 'Out of Step' With Texas|website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/us/politics/beto-cruz-debate.html |access-date=October 20, 2018 |language=en |date=September 21, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Diaz |first1=Kevin |title=Beto-Cruz debate: In this knife fight, Cruz drew more blood |url=https://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Beto-Cruz-debate-In-this-knife-fight-Cruz-drew-13249952.php |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=October 20, 2018 |date=September 22, 2018}}

Cruz declined to participate in the third, town hall-style debate for CNN held on October 18, 2018, in McAllen, Texas. O'Rourke agreed to attend the town hall meeting alone.{{cite web |last1=Baranauckas |first1=Carla |title=Ted Cruz Rejects CNN Town Hall; Beto O'Rourke Will Get Full Hour |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-cnn-town-hall_us_5bbe7215e4b0b27cf47a4813 |website=Huffington Post |access-date=October 20, 2018 |date=October 11, 2018}} During the meeting, O'Rourke said he did not see himself running for president because he has young children. He said he regretted calling Ted Cruz "Lyin' Ted", a nickname given to Cruz by Donald Trump. He confirmed that he would vote to impeach and indict Trump. He defended his Spanish nickname against accusations of cultural appropriation.{{cite news |title=Beto O'Rourke takes questions at CNN town hall: Live updates |url=https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/beto-orourke-texas-senate-town-hall/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=October 20, 2018 |language=en |date=October 18, 2018}}

File:Beto for Senate LOGO-1.png

O'Rourke's Senate bid was endorsed by the Houston Chronicle,{{cite web |last1=The Editorial Board |title=For U.S. Senate: Beto O'Rourke |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/recommendations/article/Senate-Beto-ORourke-Ted-Cruz-2018-endorsement-13320986.php |website=Houston Chronicle |date=October 19, 2018 |access-date=October 23, 2018}} the Dallas Morning News,{{cite journal |title=We recommend Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate |journal=Dallas News |date=October 25, 2018 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2018/10/25/recommend-beto-orourke-us-senate |access-date=October 25, 2018 |language=en}} and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.{{cite web|title=For U.S. Senate: Electing Beto O'Rourke is good business|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article220649100.html|website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=October 26, 2018}} Singer and activist Willie Nelson endorsed O'Rourke and held a rally for him on September 29 in Austin, Texas; Nelson said, "Beto embodies what is special about Texas, an energy and an integrity that is completely genuine."{{cite magazine |last1=Doyle |first1=Patrick |title=Lukas Nelson Defends His Dad Willie's Beto O'Rourke Endorsement |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/willie-nelson-beto-orourke-rally-lukas-725707/ |date=September 18, 2018 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 22, 2018}} At the end of the rally, Nelson debuted his new election-inspired song "Vote 'Em Out".{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/willie-nelson-performs-new-vote-em-song-beto-orourke-rally-1148186|title=Willie Nelson Performs New "Vote 'Em Out" Song for Beto O'Rourke Rally|author=Hughes, Hillary|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 30, 2018|access-date=October 10, 2018}} Other celebrity endorsements included Beyoncé,{{cite web |last1=Corbin |first1=Cristina |title=Beyoncé endorses Beto O'Rourke in Instagram posts hours before polls close |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/beyonce-endorses-beto-orourke-in-instagram-posts-hours-before-polls-close |website=Fox News |access-date=November 7, 2018 |date=November 6, 2018}} Khalid, Aaron Jones, Eva Longoria, LeBron James, Jim Carrey, Travis Scott, Ellen DeGeneres, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Kelly Rowland.{{cite web |title=Here's how 13 celebrities endorsed Beto O'Rourke for U.S. Senate |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2018/11/06/beto-orourke-texas-senate-race-2018-polls-jim-carrey-other-celebrity-support/1905295002/ |website=El Paso Times |access-date=November 7, 2018 |language=en |date=November 6, 2018}}

On September 18, 2018, a Quinnipiac poll based on phone interviews put Cruz nine points ahead of O'Rourke among likely voters, but a September 19 Ipsos online poll done in conjunction with Reuters and the University of Virginia showed O'Rourke leading Cruz by two points.{{cite web |last1=Lundstrom |first1=Kathryn |title=Beto O'Rourke leads Ted Cruz by 2 among likely voters in U.S. Senate race, new poll finds |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/09/19/beto-orourke-leads-cruz-new-poll-texas-senate-race/ |date=September 19, 2018 |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=September 22, 2018}} Going into the third debate on October 18, 2018, a CNN poll, conducted by SSRS, showed Cruz leading the campaign 52 percent to 45 percent among likely voters.

The media made comparisons between O'Rourke's Senate campaign and Obama's 2008 campaign for president, drawing parallels between their charismatic speaking styles, optimistic tones, and the nationwide attention their campaigns generated.{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Michelle |title=Opinion {{!}} Save Us, Texas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/01/opinion/beto-orourke-texas-ted-cruz-barack-obama.html |website=The New York Times|access-date=October 22, 2018 |language=en |date=October 1, 2018}}{{cite magazine |last1=SHEPHARD |first1=ALEX |title=Beto O'Rourke Isn't Running for Senate Anymore |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/151806/beto-orourke-isnt-running-senate-anymore |magazine=The New Republic |access-date=October 22, 2018 |date=October 19, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Hamby |first1=Peter |title="It Seems Like Iowa in 2007": Could Beto O'Rourke Be the Next Obama? |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/08/could-beto-orourke-be-the-next-obama |website=The Hive |access-date=October 22, 2018 |language=en |date=August 29, 2018}} Peter Hamby of Vanity Fair compared the energy at O'Rourke's rallies to the energy at Obama's rallies in 2007.

On November 6, 2018, Cruz defeated O'Rourke,{{cite web |last1=Riotta |first1=Chris |title=Ted Cruz wins tight Senate race against Beto O'Rourke |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/midterms-2018/texas-midterm-elections-live-update-results-ted-cruz-beto-orourke-senate-race-polls-a8619746.html |website=The Independent |access-date=November 11, 2018 |date=November 7, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Carlos |title=Despite Tight Race With Ted Cruz, Beto O'Rourke Got Less Votes Than Least-Popular Statewide Republican |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/despite-tight-race-ted-cruz-beto-orourke-got-less-votes-least-popular-statewide-republican/ |website=Texas Monthly |access-date=November 11, 2018 |date=November 9, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-thwarts-challenge-democratic-insurgent-beto-orourke/story?id=58854838|title=Ted Cruz thwarts challenge from Democratic insurgent Beto O'Rourke in tight Senate race, ABC News projects|work=ABC News|date=November 7, 2018|access-date=November 7, 2018}} 50.9%–48.3%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Ted-Cruz-s-margin-of-victory-over-Beto-13448497.php|title=Ted Cruz's margin of victory over Beto O'Rourke was even slimmer than we thought|first=Jeremy|last=Wallace|date=December 6, 2018|website=HoustonChronicle.com}} Despite his loss, O'Rourke was credited for the election of several down-ticket candidates of the Democratic Party, which some called the "Beto Effect".{{cite web |last1=Boney |first1=Jeffrey L. |title=The Beto Effect |url=http://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/the-beto-effect/article_0e8b0030-d58a-54a9-a9e4-84f893986bb4.html |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |access-date=November 11, 2018 |language=en |date=November 10, 2018}} For example, Republicans lost control of the Texas Third and Fifth Courts of Appeals in the 2018 elections.{{cite web |last1=Livni |first1=Ephrat |title=Beto O'Rourke helped turn Texas courts blue in US midterms — Quartz |url=https://qz.com/1459057/beto-orourke-helped-turn-texas-courts-blue-in-us-midterms/ |website=Quartz |access-date=November 11, 2018 |language=en |date=November 10, 2018}} Of 150 state House seats, 12 formerly Republican seats were taken by Democrats, as well as two of the state's 31 state Senate seats.{{cite news |last1=Henson |first1=James |title=Opinion {{!}} Beto O'Rourke should run for Senate in 2020. He could win. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/beto-orourke-should-run-for-senate-in-2020-he-could-win/2018/11/09/99263192-e462-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 13, 2018 |language=en |date=November 9, 2018}} O'Rourke received over four million votes, compared to Hillary Clinton, who received only 3.9 million votes in the 2016 presidential election in Texas, and David Alameel, the Democratic nominee in the 2014 Texas Senate race, who received only 1.6 million votes. O'Rourke set a record for most votes ever cast for a Democrat in Texas history.{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-thwarts-challenge-democratic-insurgent-beto-orourke/story?id=58854838|title=Ted Cruz thwarts challenge from Democratic insurgent Beto O'Rourke in tight Senate race, ABC News projects|date=2018-11-07|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}

File:Beto O'Rourke 2020 presidential campaign logo.svg

File:Beto O'Rourke & Steve Greenhouse (40775754213).jpg

{{Main|Beto O'Rourke 2020 presidential campaign}}

In late 2018, speculation began that O'Rourke might run in the United States presidential election in 2020.{{cite web |last1=Lemon |first1=Jason |title=Beto O'Rourke has 'star quality', Republican strategist says, as calls for 2020 presidential run increase |url=https://www.newsweek.com/beto-orourke-has-star-quality-republican-strategist-says-calls-2020-1211056 |website=Newsweek |access-date=November 12, 2018 |language=en |date=November 11, 2018}} Prior to the midterm elections, The New Republic said O'Rourke's Senate campaign was the beginning of a bid for the presidency, despite calling it "journalistic hedging", or a justification for the media extensively covering a candidate who was expected to lose his race.{{cite journal |last1=Geraghty |first1=Jim |title=Long-Shot Beto |journal=National Review |date=November 12, 2018 |volume=70 |issue=21 |pages=16–17 |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2018/11/12/long-shot-beto/ |access-date=November 12, 2018}}

Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said he has "name recognition, a widely successful fundraising operation, a young fresh face with a sprinkling of woke, a cool persona, a new perspective, he speaks Spanish and would be an exciting and upbeat candidate."{{cite web |last1=Swanson |first1=Ian |title=Beto 2020 calls multiply among Dems |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/416018-Beto-2020-calls-multiply-among-Dems/ |website=The Hill |access-date=November 11, 2018 |language=en |date=November 11, 2018}} The possibility of an O'Rourke candidacy made some Democratic party donors hesitant to commit to other candidates.{{cite web |last1=Reints |first1=Renae |title=The Possibility of a Presidential Run by Beto O'Rourke Has Democratic Donors Holding Their Breath |url=http://fortune.com/2018/11/19/beto-orourke-2020-fundraising/ |website=Fortune|access-date=November 25, 2018 |language=en |date=November 19, 2018}}

On March 13, El Paso TV station KTSM-TV reported that O'Rourke had decided to run for president in 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20190313/breaking-beto-orourke-confirmed-2020-presidential-run-tv-station-reports|newspaper=Austin-American Statesman|access-date=March 13, 2019|date=March 13, 2019|title=Breaking: Beto O'Rourke confirmed 2020 presidential run, TV station reports|first=Jonathan|last=Tilove}} O'Rourke confirmed speculation the following day by announcing that he was entering the presidential race.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/14/beto-orourke-is-running-for-president-echoes-obama-seeking-middle-ground.html|newspaper=CNBC|access-date=March 14, 2019|date=March 14, 2019|title=Beto O'Rourke is running for president. Like Obama, he has sought the middle ground on policy – while his Democratic rivals veer to the left|first=Christina|last=Wilkie}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/3508c56887c54a5e869d4258c9a2773d |title=Democrat Beto O'Rourke announces 2020 White House bid |publisher=Associated Press |date=March 14, 2019 |access-date=March 14, 2019}} According to Politico, during his presidential race, O'Rourke presented his 2018 loss to Cruz as a prominent selling point.{{cite web|last=Kruse|first=Michael|date=May 10, 2019|title=Beto's Long History of Failing Upward|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/10/beto-orourke-2020-president-campaign-profile-failing-up-226866|access-date=March 28, 2021|website=Politico}}

O'Rourke announced the end of his campaign for president on November 1, 2019.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/01/us/politics/beto-orourke-drops-out.html|title=Beto O'Rourke Drops Out of the Presidential Race|first=Alexander|last=Burns|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 1, 2019}}{{cite news |author= |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Beto O'Rourke's full statement on dropping out of the 2020 race |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/01/politics/beto-orourke-drops-out-2020-statement/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=November 1, 2019 }} He endorsed Joe Biden at a rally in Dallas, Texas, on March 2, 2020, one day before Super Tuesday.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-rally-texas-buttigieg-klobuchar-endorsement|title=O'Rourke endorses Biden at Dallas rally on eve of Super Tuesday, as ex-VP appears to offer gun-control role|last=Re|first=Gregg and Samuel Chamberlain|date=2020-03-02|work=Fox News|access-date=2020-03-02|language=en-US}}

File:Powered By People.png

In December 2019, O'Rourke founded the political action committee "Powered by People". The group is a hybrid PAC, which works like a super PAC and a traditional PAC.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/12/20/beto-orourke-launches-pac-focused-texas-2020-elections/|title=Beto O'Rourke unveils PAC with focus on boosting Texas Democrats in 2020|first=Patrick|last=Svitek|date=December 20, 2019|website=The Texas Tribune|access-date=December 31, 2020}}

After his 2020 presidential campaign ended, O'Rourke campaigned for Texas House of Representatives candidates such as Eliz Markowitz and Lorraine Birabil.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/first-vote-2020-ends-tuesday-texas-n1124266|title=Republican projected to win Texas state House seat in race watched for 2020 clues|website=NBC News|date=January 29, 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/democrats-early-2020-blitz-to-strike-in-texas-flops|title=Democrats' early 2020 blitz to strike in Texas flops|first=PAUL J.|last=WEBER|date=January 29, 2020|website=KEYE|access-date=December 31, 2020}}

During the multiple crises that Texas faced as a result of the February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm, O'Rourke organized virtual phone banks to perform wellness calls and offer assistance to senior citizens. He claimed that the volunteers he had organized had made 784,000 phone calls in a single day on February 18, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Diaz |first1=Daniella |last2=Grayer |first2=Annie |title=While Cruz was traveling from Cancun, O'Rourke and AOC helped Texans in crisis |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/19/politics/ted-cruz-beto-o-rourke-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-aoc-texas-disaster/index.html |website=CNN |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=19 February 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Romero |first1=Simon |title=Beto O'Rourke's response to crisis rekindles speculation about his political plans. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/19/us/beto-orourke-texas.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=20 February 2021 |date=19 February 2021}}

{{See also|2022 Texas gubernatorial election}}

File:Beto O'Rourke by Bradley Wilson.jpg]]

O'Rourke announced his bid for Governor of Texas in the 2022 gubernatorial election on November 15, 2021. He challenged incumbent Republican Greg Abbott. During his announcement video, O'Rourke called the 2021 Texas power crisis a "symptom of a much larger problem".{{Cite news|title=Beto O'Rourke launches 2022 bid for Texas governor|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beto-orourke-texas-governor-candidate-2022/|access-date=2021-11-15|date=2021-11-15|publisher=CBS News|last=Brewster|first=Adam|language=en-US}} With no serious primary challenge, O'Rourke won the Democratic nomination for governor in March 2022.

Given Texas's Republican lean, polls showed O'Rourke as the underdog in the race against Abbott.{{Cite web |title=Texas Governor – Abbot vs. O'Rourke |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2022/governor/tx/texas-governor-abbott-vs-orourke-7376.html |access-date=2022-02-03 |website=RealClearPolitics }} In the general election, O'Rourke was defeated by Abbott, earning 43.8% of the vote to the latter's 54.9%.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title=GOP's Abbott wins 3rd term as Texas governor, beats O'Rourke |url=https://apnews.com/article/texas-governor-race-2022-midterm-elections-1aba86e87ccd8384655d4319fd14f3fb |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=AP News |language=en}}

The gubernatorial election marked O'Rourke's third consecutive failed run for elected office and raised questions regarding his political future.{{cite web |last1=Barragán |first1=James |title=Beto O'Rourke has lost three races in four years. Is his political career over? |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/08/beto-orourke-texas/ |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=31 October 2023 |language=en |date=9 November 2022}}

File:Beto O'Rourke rally at Los Angeles Trade Tech College (40752070433).jpg]]

Political analysts classify O'Rourke as a progressive, liberal, neoliberal, or centrist.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2018/12/what-does-beto-orourke-actually-stand-for|title=What Does Beto O'Rourke Actually Stand For?|last=Jilani|first=Zaid|date=December 4, 2018 |journal=Current Affairs|access-date=2019-05-14}}{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/07/democrat-beto-orourke-texas-senate-race.html |title=Can a Democrat Ever Win in Texas? Beto O'Rourke Says Yes. |last=Rice |first=Andrew |date=July 9, 2018 |work=New York Intelligencer |publisher=New York |access-date=August 2, 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/14/politics/beto-orourke-texas-senate/index.html |title=Why Democrats everywhere are watching Beto O'Rourke's Senate campaign in Texas |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=April 14, 2018 |work=CNN |access-date=August 2, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/articles/800919/cult-beto|title=The cult of Beto|date=2018-10-10|website=theweek.com|access-date=2019-05-14}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45674116|title=Democrats dazzled by rising star in Texas|last=Cook|first=James|date=October 2, 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=December 13, 2018|language=en-GB}} During his time in Congress, O'Rourke was a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a Third Way, pro-business caucus.{{cite web|last=Schmidt|first=Robert|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aMigi3hvZ3es|title=Pro-Business 'New Democrats' Try to Shape Financial Regulations|publisher=Bloomberg|date=September 30, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Lindsay|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/11/blue-dogs-and-new-democrats-fi.html|title=Blue Dogs and New Democrats Find Friends on Wall Street|publisher=OpenSecrets|date=November 17, 2009|access-date=January 6, 2013}} The National Journal rates him 93% liberal and 7% conservative.{{cite web |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/78533/beto-orourke |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |website=Vote Smart |access-date=August 2, 2018}} Describing himself, O'Rourke has said that he does not know where he falls on the political spectrum. He has sponsored bipartisan bills as well as broken with his party on issues like trade.{{Cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/20/beto-orourke-doesnt-want-to-be-democrats-next-national-cause-217659 |title=Beto O'Rourke Doesn't Want to Be Democrats' Next National Cause |last=Dovere |first=Edward-Isaac |date=March 20, 2018 |work=Politico Magazine |access-date=August 2, 2018}}

GovTrack placed O'Rourke near the ideological center of the Democratic Party; American for Democratic action gave him a liberal rating of 90 percent, while the American Conservative Union gave him an 8% conservative rating.{{cite web |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/beto_orourke/412575 |title=Beto O'Rourke, Representative for Texas's 16th Congressional District – GovTrack.us |website=GovTrack.us |access-date=August 2, 2018}} According to FiveThirtyEight, which tracks congressional voting records, O'Rourke voted in line with Donald Trump 30.1 percent of the time during the 115th Congress.{{cite web |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/beto-orourke/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006003608/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/beto-orourke/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |title=Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump |last1=Bycoffe |first1=Aaron |date=January 30, 2017 |work=FiveThirtyEight |access-date=August 2, 2018 |last2=Silver |first2=Nate}}

Allegheny College bestowed the 2018 Prize for Civility in Public Life to O'Rourke together with Will Hurd, a Texas Republican.{{cite AV media|people=Allegheny College|title=2018 Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pjsDFKMJRI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/3pjsDFKMJRI |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|date=February 23, 2018|access-date=July 17, 2018|medium=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} In March 2017, facing snowstorm-induced flight cancellations, O'Rourke and Hurd, both stuck in San Antonio, needed to get back to Washington for a House vote. They rented a car and embarked on a {{cvt|1600|mi|adj=on}} drive that they captured on Facebook Live.{{Cite news |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/texas-congressmen-road-trip-award/ |title=Bipartisan Road Trip By Two Texas Congressmen Wins National Award |date=July 18, 2018 |work=Texas Monthly |access-date=September 20, 2018 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/07/17/civility-award-goes-texas-buddies-beto-orourke-will-hurd-scraps-partisan-win-fall |title=Civility award goes to Texas buddies Beto O'Rourke and Will Hurd, as each scraps for partisan win in the fall |date=July 17, 2018 |work=Dallas News |access-date=September 20, 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://time.com/4703631/beto-o-rourke-will-hurd-road-trip-congress/ |title=The Future of Bipartisanship in Congress Might Be Road Trips |magazine=Time |language=en |access-date=September 20, 2018}} O'Rourke and Hurd have worked collaboratively on legislation since the road trip.{{cite news |title=Beto O'Rourke and Will Hurd road trip wins them 'Civility in Public Life' award |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/article/Beto-O-Rourke-and-Will-Hurd-road-trip-wins-them-13079882.php |work=HoustonChronicle.com |date=July 17, 2018}}

O'Rourke supports stronger antitrust laws to break up monopolies which he believes "stifle competition and innovation." He promotes industry and business regulations meant to promote competition, help the economy to grow, and protect consumers. He believes, "We must connect those out of work with the high value jobs being created right here in Texas by investing in the training, certification and apprenticeship programs that make it possible."{{cite web |title=The economy |url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2018/09/10/orourke-cruz-differ-health-care-education-and-impeachment/1248239002/ |website=Times Record News |access-date=September 22, 2018}} He has received high scores from labor unions with lifetime and yearly position scores of 90–100 percent from the AFL–CIO and a 95 percent lifetime score from AFSCME.{{cite web |title=Beto O'Rourke's Ratings and Endorsements Print Track This Politician |url=https://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/78533/beto-orourke |website=Vote Smart |access-date=September 22, 2018}}

In an essay he wrote for Houston Chronicle, he repeated a common refrain of his campaign,{{cite web |last1=Lyons |first1=Joseph D. |title=Beto O'Rourke Tackled How The School-To-Prison Pipeline Stifles Young People |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/beto-orourke-tackled-the-school-to-prison-pipeline-isnt-backing-down-on-pot-decriminalization-10930954 |website=Bustle |date=August 29, 2018 |access-date=October 20, 2018 |language=en}} that "Harris County Jail is the largest provider of mental health services in our state," and quoted the statistic that "the jail has more people receiving psychiatric treatment every day than the nine state mental hospitals in Texas combined."{{cite web |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Beto |title=O'Rourke: Texas should lead the way on true criminal justice reform [Opinion] |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Beto-ORourke-Texas-criminal-justice-reform-jail-13181472.php |website=HoustonChronicle.com |access-date=October 20, 2018 |date=August 27, 2018}} He proposed that politicians work to eliminate private, for-profit prisons, end the "war on drugs", stop using mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent drug offenses, end cash bail that disproportionately affects those unable to pay bail with longer jail sentences,{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/08/28/beto-orourke-calls-texas-decriminalize-pot-stop-arresting-many-students|title=Beto O'Rourke calls on Texas to decriminalize pot, stop arresting so many students|date=August 28, 2018|work=Dallas News|access-date=August 29, 2018|language=en}} and provide reentry programs to reduce recidivism for non-violent criminals.

O'Rourke favors the legalization of cannabis.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/04/politics/beto-orourke-marijuana-legalization-2020-president/index.html|title=Beto O'Rourke calls for federal marijuana legalization ahead of likely 2020 bid|last=Bradner|first=Eric |website=CNN|date=March 4, 2019|access-date=March 5, 2019}} In 2011, O'Rourke co-authored a book, Dealing Death and Drugs: The Big Business of Dope in the U.S. and Mexico, which in part argues for an end to the prohibition of marijuana to reduce drug-related violence and undermine the finances of the Mexican drug cartels.{{cite web |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018-elections/2018/03/10/beto-orourkes-el-paso-roots-may-key-uphill-battle-ted-cruz |title=Beto O'Rourke's El Paso roots may be key in his uphill battle against Ted Cruz |last=Corchado |first=Alfredo |date=March 10, 2018 }}{{Cite book |title=Dealing Death and Drugs: The Big Business of Dope in the U.S. and Mexico |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Beto |last2=Byrd |first2=Susie |publisher=Cinco Puntos Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-933693-94-1 |publication-date=July 10, 2011 }} He has called for the arrest records of individuals sentenced for possession of small amounts of cannabis to be expunged. During the 2018 Senate campaign, O'Rourke's opponent, Ted Cruz, claimed that O'Rourke sought to legalize heroin; in 2009 when O'Rourke was an El Paso city council member he called for "honest, open national debate on ending the prohibition on narcotics".

O'Rourke favors increasing federal aid to public schools in low-income communities. He believes that teachers and local education officials should have more autonomy in setting classroom standards while reducing the current emphasis on "arbitrary, high-stakes tests". During his 2020 presidential election campaign, O'Rourke released a $500 billion education plan "committed to closing funding gaps [and] creating incentives for states and districts to guarantee fair funding for public schools and pay teachers professional wages."{{cite news |last1=Blad |first1=Evie |title=Beto O'Rourke's Education Plan: A Surge in Federal Funds, With Equity Strings Attached |url=https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/beto-orourkes-education-plan-a-surge-in-federal-funds-with-equity-strings-attached/2019/07 |website=Education Week |date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=15 November 2021}}

Additionally, during his 2022 gubernatorial campaign in Texas, O'Rourke supported increasing teacher's salaries and funding to public schools. He also opposed school vouchers, claiming that voucher systems lead to money flowing to private schools instead of public schools. Further, he advocated that public schools should receive funding based on student enrollment figures instead of attendance figures, arguing that the current attendance-based system deprives public schools of funding to educate the estimated 260,000 Texas public school students who do not attend school regularly. O'Rourke said he would focus less on cultural issues in education, like critical race theory and transgender children in sports- key issues for some conservative politicians- and focus more on educational outcomes such as "reading, graduation and college preparedness."{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Corbett |date=2022-03-07 |title=Beto O'Rourke pledges to increase school funding, fight vouchers during Dallas campaign stop |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2022/03/07/beto-orourke-pledges-to-increase-school-funding-fight-vouchers-during-dallas-campaign-stop/ |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}

While attending Woodberry Forest School, O'Rourke along with a circle of friends founded an environmental group called the Terra Interest Society. Before he was elected to city council, he joined neighborhood and community efforts to stop the re-permitting of the local ASARCO copper smelter, and once he was on the city council, he made several efforts to ensure that the copper smelter did not re-open.{{cite web|url=http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2012/04/caring-for-enviornment-and-conservation.html|title=Caring for the Environment and Conservation is Personal with Beto O'Rourke|website=elpasonaturally|last=Tolbert|first=Jim|date=April 18, 2012|access-date=November 2, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.kvia.com/news/asarco-smokestacks-demolished-/55659925|title=ASARCO smokestacks demolished|work=KVIA-TV|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=November 2, 2009|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406105055/https://www.kvia.com/news/asarco-smokestacks-demolished-/55659925|url-status=dead}}

O'Rourke supports efforts to combat global warming. He has advocated putting a price on carbon emissions and wants to substantially increase the use of renewable energy. He has been a vocal critic of the Trump Administration's elimination of greenhouse gas regulations and the shrinking of the budget for environmental projects.{{cite web |title=Ted Cruz Challenger Picks Up Key Environmental Endorsement |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/beto-orourke-cruz-environment_us_5a2c44c3e4b0a290f0513f93 |website=HuffPost |date=December 11, 2017 |access-date=September 22, 2018}}

In 2012, O'Rourke stated that "in tackling climate change and the greatest environmental threat we have ever faced, we need to take unprecedented action in building a foundation for a clean energy economy". He added, "Educating our fellow Americans about this threat to our quality of life is important to our success, and I will do all I can to make this issue a top priority in Congress."{{Cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Beto_O%60Rourke_Energy_+_Oil.htm|title=Beto O'Rourke on Energy & Oil|website=www.ontheissues.org}}

O'Rourke has introduced legislation to establish a national monument at Castner Range, near El Paso, and successfully included a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act to protect the area, which includes a historic military training facility.

O'Rourke holds a lifetime voting record of 95 percent and a 2017 score of 100 percent with the League of Conservation Voters' national environmental ranking.{{cite web |last1=scorecard |title=Voting record |url=http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/beto-orourke |website=SCV |access-date=September 22, 2018}}{{better source needed|date=January 2022}}

File:Beto O'Rourke in 2016.jpg conference in 2016]]

O'Rourke criticized Israel's actions during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict and voted against funding Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.{{cite news |title=Beto O'Rourke Is Running for President and It All Started With Weed |url=https://theintercept.com/2019/03/13/beto-orourke-running-president-started-weed/ |work=The Intercept |date=March 14, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz slams Beto O'Rourke over Israel vote |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Ted-Cruz-slams-Beto-O-Rourke-over-Israel-vote-13236738.php |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 17, 2018}} O'Rourke criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following his comments about annexing the settlements in the occupied West Bank after the 2019 Israeli election, calling him a "racist".{{cite news |title=Democratic Presidential Hopeful Beto O'Rourke Bashes 'Racist' Netanyahu Before Israel Election |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/beto-o-rourke-bashes-racist-netanyahu-1.7089635 |publisher=Haaretz |date=April 8, 2019}} In April 2019, he called the U.S.–Israel relationship "one of the most important relationships that we have on the planet."{{cite news |title=O'Rourke: US-Israel relationship must transcend 'a prime minister who is racist' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/437771-orourke-us-israel-relationship-must-transcend-a-prime-minister-who-is-racist/ |work=The Hill |date=April 7, 2019}}

O'Rourke criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses and the intervention it leads in support of the government of Yemen against the Houthis. In 2016, O'Rourke voted against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which allows relatives of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its government's alleged role in the attacks. In October 2018, after President Trump indicated the U.S. would not sanction Saudi Arabia over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, O'Rourke stated: "Saudi Arabia must be held accountable. We must stop rewarding their bad behavior, whether it's what they've just done in the murder of a journalist or their export of those who are spreading a hateful ideology or their indiscriminately bombing civilians in Yemen."{{cite news |title=Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. Beto O'Rourke press for accountability in Jamal Khashoggi's death |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/10/20/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-accountability-jamal-khashoggi-death/ |work=The Texas Tribune |date=October 20, 2018}}

O'Rourke supported the Iran nuclear deal regarding Iran's development of weapons of mass destruction.{{cite news |title=Texas Democrats Largely Back Obama on Iran Deal |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2015/09/11/texans-vote-iran/ |work=The Texas Tribune |date=September 11, 2015}} In August 2017, O'Rourke criticized Trump's hard-line stance towards North Korea, saying that "We must not allow this president to sleepwalk this country, or tweet this country, into war with North Korea."{{cite news |title=O'Rourke concerned president may 'sleepwalk or tweet' country into war |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article166849967.html |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=August 11, 2017}} In March 2019, O'Rourke called for ending the U.S.–led Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.{{cite news |title=IRAQ WAR |url=https://www.apnews.com/428519563b4749fe95d3f7566cd05f00 |agency=AP News |date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410121047/https://www.apnews.com/428519563b4749fe95d3f7566cd05f00 |url-status=dead }} O'Rourke opposed the U.S. involvement in the Syrian Civil War and providing arms to the rebel fighters in Syria. He also criticized the NATO-led military intervention in Libya a "factor in the destabilization of the Middle East and the rise of ISIS." O'Rourke supported legislation to curtail NSA's broad and unwarranted surveillance of U.S. and foreign citizens.{{cite news |title=Ignore the skeptics. Beto O'Rourke has the policy chops to run for president. [Opinion] |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Ignore-the-skeptics-Beto-O-Rourke-has-the-13468142.php |work=Houston Chronicle |date=December 15, 2018}}

In July 2018, O'Rourke said that Trump's performance while attending the 2018 Russia–United States summit in Helsinki warranted impeachment.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/397761-russia-raises-problems-for-gop-candidates/ |title=Russia raises problems for GOP candidates |last1=Hagen |first1=Lisa |date=July 18, 2018 |work=The Hill |access-date=July 19, 2018}} Addressing the Trump–Putin joint press conference of July 16, he said standing "on stage in another country with the leader of another country who wants to and has sought to undermine this country, and to side with him over the United States—if I were asked to vote on this I would vote to impeach the president."{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/beto-orourke-calls-for-trumps-impeachment-after-putin-summit-2018-7 |title=A major Democratic Senate candidate just called for Trump's impeachment after his press conference with Putin |last1=Panetta |first1=Grace |date=July 17, 2018 |website=Business Insider |access-date=July 18, 2018}} On March 23, 2019, O'Rourke accused President Trump of collusion with Russia to "undermine and influence" U.S. elections.{{cite news |title=Beto O'Rourke accuses Trump of collusion with Russia |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/5088829/beto-orourke-accuses-trump-of-collusion-with-russia |work=Global News |date=March 23, 2019}}

In March 2019, O'Rourke said regarding the China–United States trade war that President Trump had a "legitimate" cause and "We want him to be successful in this, but as I was reminded by a fellow Iowan, when have we ever gone to war, including a trade war without allies?"{{cite news |title=Trump has a 'legitimate' gripe with China, but his trade war alienated partners, Democrat Beto O'Rourke says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/14/beto-orourke-trump-has-legitimate-gripe-with-china-but-trade-war-alienated-partners.html |publisher=CNBC |date=March 14, 2019}}

In an interview with ABC, O'Rourke suggested that the United States address the migrant caravan by investing in stability in countries where the migrants originate, countries in the Northern Triangle of Central America.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/International/Beto_O%60Rourke_Foreign_Policy.htm|title=Beto O'Rourke on Foreign Policy|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2019-03-18}} O'Rourke said that U.S. involvement in Central America "has not been a very positive one over the last 60 years. You can go back to the coup [in Guatemala] that overthrew Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, fully backed by the Eisenhower administration and the Dulles brothers, who had an interest in the United Fruit company, whose fight with the government really precipitated the crisis that led to the coup."{{cite news |title=Here's How The U.S. Sparked A Refugee Crisis On The Border, In 8 Simple Steps |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/refugee-crisis-border_n_5596125 |work=HuffPost |date=July 18, 2014}}

In February 2024, O'Rouke expressed support of a campaign to vote "uncommitted" in the 2024 Michigan Democratic presidential primary, arguing it would put pressure on President Biden to bring an end to the Gaza war.{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Andrew |date=2024-02-24 |title=Beto O'Rourke supports uncommitted campaign in Michigan's Tuesday presidential primary ⋆ Michigan Advance |url=https://michiganadvance.com/2024/02/24/beto-orourke-supports-uncommitted-campaign-in-michigans-tuesday-presidential-primary/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Michigan Advance |language=en-US}}

On the evening of June 22, 2016, O'Rourke participated in the sit-in in the House of Representatives that attempted to force a vote on gun control legislation. When the Republicans ordered C-SPAN to turn off its normal coverage of the chamber, O'Rourke and Representative Scott Peters transmitted images by cell phone to social media for C-SPAN to broadcast.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/22/democrats-sit-in-periscope-facebook-live-gun-control |title=Democrats stream gun control sit-in on Periscope after Republicans turn TV cameras off |last=Woolf |first=Nicky |date=June 23, 2016 |work=The Guardian |access-date=July 2, 2018}}

On March 7, 2018, O'Rourke told Alisyn Camerota of CNN: "We have a great tradition and culture of gun ownership and gun safety for hunting, for sport, for self-defense... I think that can allow Texas to take the lead on a really tough issue, which the country is waiting for leadership and action on."{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/07/politics/texas-senate-race-beto-orourke-cnntv/index.html |title=O'Rourke defends gun control stance in Texas Senate race |last=Stracqualursi |first=Veronica |date=March 7, 2018 |work=CNN }}

He supports universal background checks for all firearm purchases.{{cite news |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/makes-beto-orourke-run/ |title=Does Beto O'Rourke Stand a Chance Against Ted Cruz? |last1=Benson |first1=Eric |date=December 21, 2017 |work=Texas Monthly |access-date=May 11, 2018}}

After the 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting, he called for a complete ban on the sale and possession of assault rifles and high-capacity magazines as well as suggesting a mandatory buy-back program to remove such existing assault weapons and magazines.{{cite news |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/23/we-asked-every-texas-congress-about-latest-gun-regulation-talks/ |title=We asked all 38 Texans in Congress about gun control after the Florida school shooting. Ten answered. |last1=Greene |first1=Sydney |date=February 23, 2018 |work=The Texas Tribune |last2=Pollock |first2=Cassandra}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/09/13/hell-yes-beto-o-rourke-s-call-to-confiscate-ar-15s-pushes-gun-debate-to-new-level/|title='Hell, yes,' Beto O'Rourke's call to confiscate AR-15s pushes gun debate to new level|date=September 13, 2019|website=Dallas News}}{{cite news |last=Pane |first=Lisa |title=Beto O'Rourke calls for gun buybacks: How would that work? |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2019/0922/Beto-O-Rourke-calls-for-gun-buybacks-How-would-that-work |work=Christian Science Monitor/Associated Press |date=September 22, 2019 |access-date=November 1, 2019 }}{{cite news |last=Boot |first=Max |date=September 17, 2019 |title=Thanks, Beto. We need to debate an assault-weapon buyback |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/thanks-beto-we-need-to-debate-an-assault-weapon-buyback/2019/09/17/864d09a4-d964-11e9-a688-303693fb4b0b_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 1, 2019 }} In September 2019, O'Rourke reaffirmed his commitment to mandatory assault weapon buybacks in a tweet.{{cite tweet |number=1168616482529562625 |user=BetoORourke |title=I was asked how I'd address people's fears that we will take away their assault rifles.. |date=September 2, 2019 |access-date=November 2, 2018}} During a live televised interview on October 16, 2019, MSNBC cable news-show host Joe Scarborough asked O'Rourke how he, as president, would respond to non-compliance from those assault rifle owners who regard such a mandatory program as "an unjust law and unconstitutional." O'Rourke replied: "There have to be consequences, or else there is no respect for the law… In that case, I think there would be a visit by law enforcement to recover that firearm and to make sure that it is purchased."{{Cite news |last=McArdle |first=Mairead |date=October 16, 2019 |title=Beto Admits Non-Compliant AR-15 Owners Would Receive a 'Visit from a Law-Enforcement Officer' under His Plan |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/beto-admits-non-compliant-ar-15-owners-would-receive-a-visit-from-a-law-enforcement-officer-under-his-plan/ |access-date=November 2, 2019 |work=National Review |language=en-US}}

In a September 19, 2019, Democratic presidential debate, O'Rourke again called for a mandatory buyback of assault weapons saying "Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/beto-o-rourke-explains-how-he-intends-get-your-ar-n1054191|title='Hell yes': Beto O'Rourke explains how he intends to get your AR-15s|website=NBC News|date=September 13, 2019 }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/09/beto-orourke-texas-senate-race-guns|title=Beto "Gave Away the Game": Will O'Rourke's Hell-Yes Moment Cost Him Back in Texas?|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=September 20, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/12/beto-orourke-hell-yes-were-going-take-your-assault-weapons/|title=Beto O'Rourke gets debate moment: "Hell yes, we're going to take your" assault weapons|first=Patrick|last=Svitek|date=September 13, 2019|website=The Texas Tribune}} Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware lamented on CNN that O'Rourke's stance could haunt Democrats, because "that clip will be played for years at Second Amendment rallies with organizations that try to scare people by saying, 'Democrats are coming for your guns{{' "}}.

On May 25, 2022, O'Rourke confronted Texas Governor Greg Abbott during a press conference about the Robb Elementary School shooting that had occurred the day before{{cite web |author=Maegan Vazquez and Gregory Krieg |title=Beto O'Rourke confronts Texas governor during update on Uvalde elementary school shooting |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/25/politics/beto-orourke-uvalde-greg-abbott/index.html |website=CNN|date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022}} and told the governor, "You are doing nothing. You are offering up nothing. You said this was not predictable. This was totally predictable when you choose not to do anything." The confrontation received a mixed response from the crowd.{{cite web |title=Beto O'Rourke interrupts briefing, echoing US debate on guns |url=https://apnews.com/article/beto-orourke-texas-shooting-press-conference-7dfd6a0b44b9d0f739e4fd6b02ac3cf9 |website=AP News |access-date=27 May 2022 |language=en |date=25 May 2022}} Senator Ted Cruz told O'Rourke to "sit down" while Uvalde Mayor Don MacLaughlin shouted at him and accused him of being a "sick son of a bitch" and making the tragedy a "political issue". O'Rourke left the room accompanied by security guards and continued his remarks outside the building, criticizing Governor Abbott for not funding mental health services and for opposing gun regulations.{{cite web |last1=Hooper |first1=Kelly |title='You are doing nothing': O'Rourke accosts Abbott at press conference on shooting |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/25/beto-orourke-challenges-abbott-on-gun-violence-at-uvalde-press-conference-00035149 |website=Politico|date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022 |language=en}} The New York Times described the confrontation as a "political gamble" that received criticism from both Republicans and some Democrats.{{cite web |last1=Ulloa |first1=Jazmine |title=For Beto O'Rourke, Talk of Gun Control Has Become Both a Political Risk and Reward |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/04/us/politics/beto-orourke-gun-control.html |website=The New York Times |url-access=subscription|access-date=22 June 2022 |date=29 August 2024}}

O'Rourke has since shifted his views on guns and disavowed his comments on a mandatory assault rifle buyback program stating that he is "not interested in taking anything from anyone" and committed to "defending the second amendment".{{Cite news |last=Greenwood |first=Max |date=2022-02-10 |title=O'Rourke on past remarks about taking guns: 'Not interested in taking anything from anyone' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/593735-orourke-on-past-remarks-about-taking-away-guns-im-not-interested-in-taking/ |access-date=2024-11-10 |work=The Hill |language=en-US}}

O'Rourke favors comprehensive immigration reform.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-beto-orourkes-challenge-to-ted-cruz-democrats-see-a-chance-at-a-statewide-win-in-texas/2018/03/06/3bad4088-20a3-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html |title=Ted Cruz calls out challenger Beto O'Rourke in a sign of a tough fight to come in Texas |last=O'Keefe |first=Ed |date=March 6, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 16, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Gillman |first1=Todd |title=Far apart on immigration, Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke both use the issue to woo voters |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018-elections/2018/08/11/far-apart-immigration-ted-cruz-beto-orourke-use-issue-woo-voters |access-date=November 9, 2018 |publisher=Dallas Morning News |date=August 11, 2018}} As early as 2012, he asserted that his experience living on the border gave him "a strong understanding of immigration's impact on our community", calling El Paso "an Ellis Island to Latin America for more than 150 years", and spoke against 'militarizing' the border.{{cite journal |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Beto |title=The View of Immigration Reform from the U.S.-Mexico Border |journal=Public Administration Review |date=May 2014 |volume=74 |issue=3 |page=302|doi=10.1111/puar.12209 }} O'Rourke opposed Trump's decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which granted temporary stay to some undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors.{{cite news |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/15/protecting-dreamers-top-priority-orourke-says-state-congress-luncheon/671588001/ |title=Protecting 'Dreamers' top priority, O'Rourke says at State of Congress luncheon |last=Borunda |first=Daniela |date=September 15, 2017 |work=El Paso Times |access-date=March 16, 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/community/2016/11/28/dreamers-town-hall-story-1129/94575902/ |title=O'Rourke addresses needs, concerns related to DACA |last=Sanchez |first=Sara |date=November 28, 2016 |work=El Paso Times |access-date=March 16, 2018 |language=en}} O'Rourke said it is a "top priority" to protect DREAMers. In October 2016, he gave a TEDx talk, titled The Border Makes America Great, about his views on immigration.{{cite AV media |people=Beto O'Rourke |title=The Border Makes America Great {{!}} Beto O'Rourke {{!}} TEDxElPaso |medium=video |publisher=YouTube |location=El Paso, TX |date=October 19, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXbFZoSMbZI}}

He has criticized President Donald Trump's rhetoric on immigration, saying: "[Trump is] constantly stoking anxiety and fear about Mexicans, immigrants and the border with Mexico. Unfortunately this President takes another step into a dark world of fear, isolation and separation."{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@RepBetoORourke/thoughts-on-the-join-session-of-congress-af3cd5605f62 |title=Thoughts on the joint session of Congress |last=O'Rourke |first=Beto |date=March 1, 2017 |website=Medium |access-date=March 16, 2018}} In June 2018, O'Rourke led protests in Tornillo, Texas, against the Trump administration family separation policy which involved the separation of children of immigrant families. The city is located just miles from the Rio Grande, the river that creates the border of the United States and Mexico in the state of Texas.{{cite web |last1=Aguilar |first1=Julián |last2=García Hernández |first2=Juan Luis LUIS |title=Beto O'Rourke, Veronica Escobar lead Father's Day march on tent city housing separated immigrant children |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/17/texas-beto-orourke-tent-city-tornillo-immigration/ |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=November 12, 2018 |language=en |date=June 17, 2018}} The Trump administration had created a "tent-city" in Tornillo, where separated children were being held without their parents. O'Rourke called this practice "Un-American" and the responsibility of all Americans.{{cite news |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2018/06/17/beto-orourke-leads-protest-against-separation-immigrant-families-tornillo-tent-city-children/708562002/ |title=Beto O'Rourke leads Tornillo protest against separation of immigrant families |last=González |first=María Cortés |date=June 17, 2018 |work=El Paso Times }}{{Cite news |url=https://ktla.com/2018/06/17/separating-children-from-parents-at-border-is-un-american-and-on-all-of-us-texas-rep-beto-orourke-says/ |title=Separating Children From Parents at Border Is 'Un-American' and 'on All of Us,' Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke Says |date=June 17, 2018 |work=KTLA |agency=CNN Wire}} O'Rourke stated that leading the march "was a religious experience... I happen to have been raised Catholic, and what I take away from my religion is you do your best to love everyone, to be good to everyone."{{cite web|last=Diaz|first=Kevin|title=Road Work Ahead|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Beto-O-Rourke-has-chance-of-beating-Ted-Cruz-13141321.php|website=The Houston Chronicle|date=August 10, 2018|access-date=March 27, 2019|language=en}} In April 2019, O'Rourke publicly compared rhetoric used by Trump to describe immigrants to language from Nazi Germany.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437589-orourke-compares-trump-immigration-comments-to-nazi-germany/|title=O'Rourke compares Trump immigration comments to Nazi Germany|first=Rachel|last=Frazin|date=April 5, 2019|website=The Hill}}

Ted Cruz asserted in 2018 that O'Rourke wanted "open borders and wants to take our guns."{{Cite news |url=https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2018/mar/15/ted-cruz/ted-cruz-says-beto-orourke-wants-open-borders-and-/ |title=Ted Cruz: Beto O'Rourke wants open border and to take guns |last=Selby |first=W. Gardner |date=March 15, 2018 |work=PolitiFact |access-date=March 16, 2018}} PolitiFact found that Cruz's claims were "false", noting that O'Rourke had "not called for opening the borders or for government agents to take guns from law-abiding residents". Subsequently, in an interview in February 2019, O'Rourke indicated he would tear down the wall between El Paso and the southern US border, since he feels that the fencing has forced migrants to the most inhospitable areas of the southern border, "ensuring their suffering and death".{{cite news |last1=Madani |first1=Doha |title='I'd take the wall down,' says Beto O'Rourke of current border barriers |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/i-d-take-wall-down-says-beto-o-rourke-current-n971896 |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=NBC News |date=15 February 2019}}

In October 2019, during his presidential campaign, O'Rourke proposed to remove the tax-exempt status of religious organizations that oppose same-sex marriage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/warren-buttigieg-reject-o-rourke-threat-tax-anti-lgbtq-churches-n1066036|title=Warren, Buttigieg reject O'Rourke threat to tax anti-LGBTQ churches|website=NBC News|date=October 14, 2019 }} At CNN's Equality Town Hall, O'Rourke asserted that "'there can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution, any organization in America that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us'". O'Rourke's press secretary later clarified that he "'was referring to religious institutions who take discriminatory action'".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/11/politics/beto-orourke-lgbtq-gay-marriage-church-fact-check/index.html|title=Beto O'Rourke said religious institutions should lose tax-exempt status if they oppose gay marriage. Is that legal?|author1=Holmes Lybrand |author2=Tara Subramaniam|website=CNN|date=October 11, 2019}} O'Rourke's comment "infuriated a swath of religious and conservative leaders".{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/beto-orourke-revoke-tax-exempt-status-religious-organizations/story?id=66213718|title=Beto O'Rourke said he would revoke tax-exempt status from religious organizations that oppose same-sex marriage|website=ABC News}} Then presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, voiced disagreement and criticism of O'Rourke's stance.{{Cite web|url=https://local12.com/news/nation-world/beto-wants-to-tax-churches-warren-buttigieg-say-no-way-10-15-2019|title=Beto wants to tax churches, Warren, Buttigieg say 'no way'|first=ELANA|last=SCHOR |date=October 15, 2019|website=WKRC|access-date=December 31, 2020}}

O'Rourke voted against the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.{{cite web |title=Beto O'Rourke on Abortion |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Beto_O%60Rourke_Abortion.htm |website=OnTheIssues.org – Candidates on the Issues |access-date=February 12, 2019 |date=January 22, 2015 |quote=O'Rourke voted NAY to No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act (H.R.7)...}} As a gubernatorial candidate, O'Rourke claims he would attempt to repeal Texas laws restricting abortion bans if he was elected governor.{{cite web |last1=Dey |first1=Sneha |title=Beto O'Rourke vows to repeal Texas abortion ban if elected governor |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/26/texas-abortion-beto-orourke/ |website=The Texas Tribune |access-date=27 June 2022 |language=en |date=27 June 2022}}

O'Rourke told the Dallas Voice that "he called marriage equality a core civil rights issue" during his House primary campaign. While on the El Paso City Council, O'Rourke led a successful fight to overturn the domestic partnership ban. He was a co-sponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2013 (H.R. 3135).{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3135/cosponsors |title=Cosponsors – H.R.3135 – 113th Congress (2013–2014): Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2013 |date=January 22, 2014 |website=Congress.gov }}

Whilst previously having supported Medicare for All during the 2018 US Senate race, O'Rourke backtracked during the 2020 presidential primary, instead supporting a proposal he called "Medicare for America". This alternative would allow all citizens on an employment-based health insurance to keep that insurance if they wanted to, but it would move all uninsured, Medicaid-covered, and newborn citizens to Medicare immediately.{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Dylan |title=Medicare for America, Beto O'Rourke's favorite health care plan, explained |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/18/18270857/medicare-for-all-beto-orourke-2020-policies-voxcare |access-date=24 March 2019 |work=Vox |date=18 March 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-democrats-stand-single-payer-health-care/ |title=Where do Texas Democrats Stand on Single-Payer Health Care? |last=Novack |first=Sophie |date=September 20, 2017 |work=The Texas Observer |access-date=March 16, 2018 |language=en-US}} He supports stabilization of the insurance markets to improve the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He also supports the expansion of Medicaid and is a co-sponsor of the Medicare-X Choice Act of 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/in-longview-stop-o-rourke-says-he-s-confident-gun/article_fba30508-1d65-11e8-918d-038f186efa28.html |title=In Longview stop, O'Rourke says he's confident gun measure will pass |last=Evans |first=Glenn |date=March 1, 2018 |work=Longview News-Journal }}{{cite web |url=https://betofortexas.com/issue/healthcare/ |title=Healthcare Texans Can Trust |website=Beto for Senate |access-date=April 2, 2018 |archive-date=April 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402102107/https://betofortexas.com/issue/healthcare/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4094 |title=H.R.4094 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): Medicare-X Choice Act of 2017 |last=Brian |first=Higgins |date=October 27, 2017 |website=Congress.gov }}

O'Rourke has spoken out against racial inequality. He supports the football players who have taken part in the "Take a knee" protests. Speaking in a video that went viral, O'Rourke said he believes there is "nothing more American than to peacefully stand up, or take a knee, for your rights, anytime, anywhere or any place."{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jenna |title=Why so many people are coming to see Beto O'Rourke: A revolt against Trump and a demand for compassion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/a-demand-from-texas-voters-in-the-era-of-trump-compassion/2018/08/30/f26cc678-a077-11e8-83d2-70203b8d7b44_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 31, 2018|access-date=August 31, 2018}} He has also asserted that while he was given second chances after being arrested twice in his younger years, those chances are often "denied to too many of our fellow Texans, particularly those who don't look like me or have access to the same opportunities that I did." In September 2018, Cruz posted to Twitter a video of O'Rourke in a Dallas church, largely attended by African-Americans, speaking out against the killing of Bothem Shem Jean, an unarmed black man in his own home, by an off-duty police officer.{{cite web |last1=Chait |first1=Jonathan |title=Ted Cruz Attacks Beto O'Rourke for Denouncing Police Murder in a Black Church |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/09/ted-cruz-attacks-beto-orourke-for-denouncing-police-murder.html |website=New York Intelligencer |access-date=October 19, 2018 |language=en |date=September 22, 2018}} In the video, the crowd gave the speech a standing ovation, and the video served to bolster O'Rourke's standing nationally, going viral and receiving wide praise.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Amy B |title=Analysis {{!}} 'Master of the Self-Own': People wonder why Ted Cruz tweeted popular video of Beto O'Rourke |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/22/master-self-own-people-wonder-why-ted-cruz-tweeted-inspiring-video-beto-orourke/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 19, 2018 |language=en |date=September 22, 2018}}

O'Rourke held monthly veterans town hall meetings throughout his term in Congress.{{Cite news |url=https://www.kvia.com/news/el-paso/o-rourke-touts-improved-wait-times-at-town-hall-for-el-paso-veterans/796346484 |title=O'Rourke touts improved wait times at town hall for El Paso veterans |last=Montgomery |first=Shelby |date=September 17, 2018 |work=KVIA |access-date=September 20, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921074030/https://www.kvia.com/news/el-paso/o-rourke-touts-improved-wait-times-at-town-hall-for-el-paso-veterans/796346484 |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |url-status=dead }} After hearing about long wait times, especially regarding mental health, he carried out his own local survey of veterans, which showed wait times far exceeding what the VA was reporting. In an attempt to better meet veterans' needs, O'Rourke and others worked to establish a new program at the El Paso VA designed to care for military related health issues within the hospital while using community clinics or medical facilities in the area for more standard medical needs.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/15/politics/el-paso-va-reform/index.html |title=Could congressman's plan save the VA? – CNNPolitics |last=Investigations |first=Scott Bronstein and Drew Griffin, CNN |work=CNN|access-date=September 20, 2018}}

O'Rourke co-sponsored the bipartisan bill H.R. 1604, the Veterans' Mental Health Care Access Act, with Republican Congressmen Tom MacArthur, which expanded options for veterans seeking mental health care to non-VA facilities.{{Cite news |url=http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/7496e6ef-0295-5863-9dee-a000bfdfcbca.html |title=MacArthur: Veterans need better access to mental health care services |last=Levinsky |first=David |work=Burlington County Times |access-date=September 20, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925000144/http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/7496e6ef-0295-5863-9dee-a000bfdfcbca.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |url=https://macarthur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/macarthur-and-orourke-introduce-bipartisan-bill-increase-veteran-mental |title=MacArthur and O'Rourke Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Veteran Mental Health Care |date=March 26, 2015 |work=Congressman Tom MacArthur |access-date=September 20, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919085257/https://macarthur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/macarthur-and-orourke-introduce-bipartisan-bill-increase-veteran-mental |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=dead }} O'Rourke serves on both the House Veterans' Affairs Committee,{{cite web |url=https://veterans.house.gov/about/members.htm |title=House Committee on Veterans Affairs |website=veterans.house.gov |language=en-US |access-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920055537/https://veterans.house.gov/about/members.htm |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |url-status=dead }} and the House Armed Services Committee, which oversees military installations such as Fort Bliss, headquartered in El Paso.{{Cite news |url=https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-rep-beto-orourke-named-house-armed-services-committee |title=U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke named to House Armed Services Committee |date=January 9, 2015 |work=Congressman Will Hurd |access-date=September 20, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919164437/https://hurd.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-rep-beto-orourke-named-house-armed-services-committee |url-status=dead }}

In September 2016, three bills that were attached as amendments to H.R. 5620 (or the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016) were approved unanimously with bipartisan support in the House. The first, the Vet Connect Act of 2016 (H.R. 5162), would allow a veteran's entire medical record to be shared with a community provider, without explicit written consent, with a pilot of the program then being tried in El Paso. The Ask Veterans Act (H.R. 1319) would have a non-government contractor conduct an annual survey on behalf of the secretary of Veterans Affairs in order to determine veterans' experiences with hospital care and medical services at VA facilities, the results of which would be publicly accessible. O'Rourke developed this idea from feedback from veterans at town hall meetings. The Get Vets a Doc Now Act (H.R. 5501) would allow the VA to provide conditional job offers to resident doctors two years before the completion of their programs, in an effort to recruit doctors to fill the shortage of 43,000 clinicians.{{cite web |last1=Sanchez |first1=Sara |title=O'Rourke's proposals to aid veterans pass House |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/military/2016/09/14/orourkes-proposals-aid-veterans-pass-house/90375378/ |website=El Paso Times |access-date=November 21, 2018 |language=en |date=September 14, 2016}}

File:Beto O'Rourke with family (48214127866).jpg

On July 3, 2001, O'Rourke's father, a longtime cycling enthusiast, died while riding his bicycle along the shoulder of Pete Domenici Highway, just outside the city limits of El Paso and across the New Mexico state line, when he was struck from behind by a car, throwing him {{convert|70|ft}} and causing severe head injuries; he was pronounced dead at the scene. O'Rourke delivered the eulogy during the funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in El Paso.{{cite news|title=Political risk-taker died doing what he loved|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/432171063|newspaper=El Paso Times|last=Crowder|first=David|date=July 4, 2001|access-date=November 3, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/432171661|title=Friends, family say goodbye to O'Rourke|newspaper=El Paso Times|last=Cruz|first=Laura|date=July 7, 2001|access-date=November 3, 2018}}{{cite news|title=El Paso bike trail named after late county judge Pat O'Rourke|url=http://www.kvia.com/news/top-stories/el-paso-bike-trail-named-after-late-county-judge-pat-orourke/584006947|last=Bieri|first=Kate|work=KVIA ABC-7 News|date=July 9, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412232613/https://www.kvia.com/news/top-stories/el-paso-bike-trail-named-after-late-county-judge-pat-orourke/584006947|archive-date=April 12, 2019|url-status=dead}} On December 20, 2022, O'Rourke's sister, Erin, died at the age of 42; she suffered from intellectual disabilities and O'Rourke had been her legal guardian at one time.{{cite web |last1=Santana |first1=Steven |title='Rest in peace, Bear': Beto O'Rourke mourns death of his sister |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/beto-orourke-sister-death-17668947.php |website=mySA |access-date=30 January 2023 |date=21 December 2022}} His mother died on December 17, 2023, from cancer.{{cite news|url=http://cbs4local.com/news/local/beto-orourke-announces-passing-of-his-mother-melissa-a-beloved-owner-of-charlottes-furniture-melissa-charlotte-pat-county-judge-bike-|title=Former El Paso congressman Beto O'Rourke announces passing of mother, longtime local owner|website=KDBC-TV|language=en|date=December 17, 2023|access-date=December 17, 2023}}

O'Rourke married Amy Hoover Sanders, the daughter of Louann and Bill Sanders, at her parents' ranch in Lamy, New Mexico, near Santa Fe, on September 24, 2005.{{cite news |title=From Santa Fe to the White House? |url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/from-santa-fe-to-the-white-house/article_099d8df9-bfc0-5249-89a6-bf9874bca660.html|newspaper=The Santa Fe New Mexican |last=Terrell |first=Steve |date=March 30, 2019 |access-date=April 5, 2019}} Bill Sanders is a real estate developer who previously dated O'Rourke's mother and introduced her to O'Rourke's father.{{citation |title=Is Beto O'Rourke's Wife Really A 'Billionaire' Heiress? Not Likely. |url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2018/11/04/is-beto-orourkes-wife-really-a-billionaire-heiress-not-likely/#1fd56ab6387f |newspaper=Forbes.com |last1=Helman |first1=Christopher |last2=Debter |first2=Lisa |date=November 4, 2018 |access-date=March 3, 2019}} The couple and their three children live in El Paso's Sunset Heights in the Henry Trost-designed mission-style house where General Hugh Scott and Pancho Villa reportedly met in 1915.{{cite web |last1=Fischer |first1=Steve |title=Sunset Heights offers tour of history: Steve Fischer column|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/opinion/2017/10/05/sunset-heights-offers-tour-history-steve-fischer-column/725364001|newspaper=El Paso Times|access-date=October 19, 2018 |language=en |date=October 5, 2017}}

O'Rourke is a lifelong Catholic but has publicly expressed disagreement with Church doctrine, including its refusal to solemnize same-sex marriages.{{cite AV media |title=Beto O'Rourke on Women's Right to Choose |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_kiMv4kEp0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Z_kiMv4kEp0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|medium=YouTube |publisher=Greater Houston for Beto |time=0:47 |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=April 9, 2019 |quote=My mom who raised me and whose single greatest disappointment in life is that I'm not a better Catholic and I'm not in mass right now.}}{{cbignore}}

On May 19, 1995, O'Rourke and his friends jumped over a fence at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) physical plant, and were arrested by the UTEP police. He was held in jail overnight and posted bail the following day. He was initially charged with attempted burglary, but prosecutors dropped the case against O'Rourke and his friends in February 1996 when UTEP declined to pursue the charges.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/432406082 |title=Tax Relief, Revitalization Motivate South-West District Candidates |newspaper=El Paso Times |last=Fonce-Olivas |first=Tammy |date=April 20, 2005 |access-date=November 5, 2018}}

O'Rourke was arrested for driving while intoxicated on September 27, 1998, at 3:00 a.m. on Interstate 10 in Anthony, Texas. O'Rourke had lost control of his car and hit another vehicle. The charges were dismissed in October 1999 after he completed a court-approved DWI program.{{cite web |last1=Diaz |first1=Kevin |title=Police reports detail Beto O'Rourke's 1998 DWI arrest |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Police-reports-detail-Beto-O-Rourke-s-1998-13195088.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831200012/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Police-reports-detail-Beto-O-Rourke-s-1998-13195088.php |archive-date=August 31, 2018 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=August 31, 2018|date=August 30, 2018 }} In response to criticism from a political opponent in 2005, O'Rourke said, "I've been open about it since the very beginning. I have owned up to it, and I have taken responsibility for it." He apologized and said he was "grateful for the second chance".{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/8/29/17791584/beto-orourke-cruz-gop-punk-band-arrests-mugshot |title=Texas Republicans are trying to use Beto's punk rock days against him |first=Tara |last=Golshan |work=Vox |access-date=September 14, 2018|date=August 29, 2018 }}

{{Election box begin no change |title=2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 16}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Beto O'Rourke

|votes = 101,403

|percentage = 65.42

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Barbara Carrasco

|votes = 51,043

|percentage = 32.93

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Junart Sodoy

|votes = 2,559

|percentage = 1.65

}}{{Election box total no change

|votes = 155,005

|percentage = 100.00

}}{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 16}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Beto O'Rourke (incumbent)

|votes = 49,338

|percentage = 67.49

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Corey Roen

|votes = 21,324

|percentage = 29.17

}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Jaime Pérez

|votes = 2,443

|percentage = 3.34

}}{{Election box total no change

|votes = 73,105

|percentage = 100.00

}}{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: District 16}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Beto O'Rourke (incumbent)

| votes = 150,228

| percentage = 85.73

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Jaime Pérez

| votes = 17,491

| percentage = 9.98

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Green Party (United States)

| candidate = Mary Gourdoux

| votes = 7,510

| percentage = 4.29

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 175,229

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin|title=United States Senate election in Texas, 2018{{cite web|title=2018 General Election |url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist331_race832.htm|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|access-date=December 5, 2018}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Ted Cruz (incumbent)|votes=4,260,553|percentage=50.89%|change=-5.57%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Beto O'Rourke|votes=4,045,632|percentage=48.33%|change=+7.71%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Neal Dikeman|votes=65,470|percentage=0.78%|change=-1.28%}}

{{Election box total|votes=8,371,655|percentage=100%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin|title=2022 Texas gubernatorial election{{Cite web |title=Texas Election Results |url=https://results.texas-election.com/contestdetails?officeID=1004&officeName=GOVERNOR&officeType=STATEWIDE%20OFFICES&from=race }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Greg Abbott (incumbent)|votes=4,437,099|percentage=54.76%|change=-1.05%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Beto O'Rourke|votes=3,553,656|percentage=43.86%|change=+1.35%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Mark Tippetts|votes=81,932|percentage=1.01%|change=-0.68%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of the United States|candidate=Delilah Barrios|votes=28,584|percentage=0.35%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box total|votes=8,102,908|percentage=100.00%|change=N/A}}{{Election box turnout|votes=8,102,908|percentage=45.85%|change=}}{{Election box registered electors|reg. electors=17,672,143}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}

• O'Rourke, Beto (2023). We've Got to Try: How the Fight for Voting Rights Makes Everything Else Possible. Flatiron Books. {{ISBN|9781250852465}}.
• O'Rourke, Beto and Byrd, Susie (2011). Dealing Death and Drugs: The Big Business of Dope in the U.S. and Mexico. Cinco Puntos Press. {{ISBN|1933693940}}.

• Electoral history of Beto O'Rourke

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{citation| title = The Net Worth Of Every 2020 Presidential Candidate

| last = Alexander | first = Dan

| work = Forbes |issn=0015-6914

| year = 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019

| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2019/08/14/heres-the-net-worth-of-every-2020-presidential-candidate/#10f1f66137c5

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20191104010913/https://www.forbes.com/

| archive-date = 4 November 2019

| ref = none

}}

• {{citation| title = Beto net worth: Personal finances disclosures indicate O'Rourke worth millions

| last = Long | first = Trish

| newspaper= El Paso Times |issn=0746-3588

| year = 2019 |access-date=4 November 2019

| url = https://eu.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/03/15/beto-o-rourke-net-worth-running-for-president-2020-announcement-wife-amy-hoover-sanders/3151241002/

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20191104013804/https://eu.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2019/03/15/beto-o-rourke-net-worth-running-for-president-2020-announcement-wife-amy-hoover-sanders/3151241002/

| archive-date = 4 November 2019

| ref = none

}}

{{refend}}

• Melissa del Bosque, "[https://www.texasobserver.org/3014-lights-cameras-mayhem/ Lights, Camera, Mayhem!]", Texas Observer, April 17, 2009.
• Matt Flegenheimer, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/us/politics/beto-orourke-president.html Beto O'Rourke Was Once Adrift in New York City. Now He's Searching Again]". The New York Times, February 6, 2019.

{{Sister project links |wikt=no |b=no |d=Q4014532 |n=no |v=no}}

• [https://betoorourke.com/ Beto for Texas] campaign website
• {{C-SPAN|79697}}

{{CongLinks |congbio=O000170 |votesmart=78533 |fec=H2TX16185 |congress=beto-o-rourke/2162 }}

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