Summary:
Beto O’Rourke, former Texas gubernatorial and Senate candidate, is rumored to be considering another run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. Despite his previous losses and challenges, O’Rourke’s political persistence keeps him in the spotlight. Key obstacles include shifting voter demographics in South Texas toward the GOP and his own tarnished political image. While speculation abounds, the electoral landscape may ultimately deter another campaign.
What This Means for You:
- Political Awareness: Keep an eye on Texas politics as shifting demographics could impact future elections.
- Strategic Voting: Evaluate candidates beyond party lines, considering their stance on critical issues like immigration.
- Media Consumption: Be aware of how campaigns use media to shape public perception, as seen in Abbott’s 2022 campaign against O’Rourke.
- Future Outlook: Expect Texas to remain a battleground state, with potential surprises in voter behavior.
Original Post:
Former candidate for everything Beto O’Rourke may be running again. Well, this is not a surprise because he’s never stopped running since losing to Governor Greg Abbott in 2022. We hear rumors Robert Francis may run again for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
This is from Guy Benson:
The fact that he isn’t ruling out another Senate run is likely code for “I’m running,” considering that he previously reversed his own hard ‘no’ to launch a previous campaign. After falling to Cruz, O’Rourke categorically rejected the idea of running for president in the subsequent cycle. It wasn’t a probably not. It was an absolutely not because doing so would destroy my family.
He did run for president, and then for governor, and who knows but he may do it again.
To be fair, other politicians like to tease their followers about running. I remember Governor Cuomo running so many times that it became an annual event. One big difference is that Cuomo was the governor of a big state like New York whereas Beto has never won anything but a super Democrat district in El Paso.
O’Rourke faces two challenges if he runs.
First, South Texas has become more GOP friendly. This is not the 2018 Texas election when he nearly beat Senator Cruz. The best example of this is Starr County, a very Mexican American area on the border that flipped and voted 57% for Trump. That was the flip of flips and the support for Trump was a lot about immigration.
The second problem is Beto himself. He was completely “undressed” by the Abbott campaign in 2022. The governor ran every Beto video about AR-15s and other liberal causes. He painted Beto liberal and that’s what Texas thinks of him. Another problem is that three-time losers usually don’t get a fourth chance.
My guess is that he won’t run because he knows the landscape is not Beto-friendly. So we will probably have a lot of Beto to watch on TV, but he won’t be at the victory party on election night 2026.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
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Image: Gage Skidmore
Extra Information:
Starr County’s Political Shift – A detailed look at how a historically Democratic county voted Republican, highlighting changing voter priorities.
Guy Benson’s Analysis – Insights into Beto O’Rourke’s potential Senate run and its implications for Texas politics.
People Also Ask About:
- Why did Starr County flip Republican? Shifting voter priorities, particularly on immigration, influenced the change.
- What are Beto O’Rourke’s political challenges? O’Rourke faces a GOP-leaning South Texas and a tarnished political image.
- What is the likelihood of Beto running in 2026? Speculation suggests he may avoid another run due to unfavorable electoral conditions.
- How has Texas politics changed since 2018? Increased GOP support in traditionally Democratic areas marks a significant shift.
Expert Opinion:
Texas’ evolving political landscape underscores the importance of understanding shifting voter priorities. Beto O’Rourke’s potential run highlights the challenges of overcoming a tainted political image in a state increasingly leaning Republican.
Key Terms:
- Beto O’Rourke 2026 Senate run
- Texas politics GOP shift
- Starr County Republican vote
- Texas voter demographics
- Beto O’Rourke political image
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