Beto has a chance

Democrats nationwide eager for Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke to announce 2020 bid for presidency

Beto has a chance

Rachael Rutherford, Entertainment Editor

You’ve probably heard his name, likely in November 2018, but more recently he has been all over the minds of the Democratic party. Ladies and gentlemen: Beto O’Rourke.

The former Texas Congressman is being heavily pushed by the Democratic Party to announce his Presidential bid for the 2020 election, rumored to be announced soon. In November, O’Rourke lost in the Senate race in Texas against Senator Ted Cruz by a measly 2.6%, according to the New York Times. This small loss in a notoriously Republican state made Democrats all over the nation turn their heads to Beto O’Rourke, reaching to him for hope in 2020.

So, what about Beto O’Rourke is charming the Democrats? How could a relatively unknown Texas Congressman at the start of 2018 develop into a Democratic superstar by December?

To start, he raised over $70 million for his Texas Senate campaign and held a very strong race against Senator Ted Cruz, a former Presidential campaigner himself, in a red state. With the buzz surrounding O’Rourke kicking off in November, now is his opportunity to run for President – if he has one at all.

Secondly, O’Rourke retired from his House seat in order to run for Senate, so the next time he could run for Senate again would be in 2020. However, with the incumbency of President Trump in the 2020 Presidential election, O’Rourke would not hold the best odds of snagging a Democratic seat in Texas.

If he does not announce a Presidential bid for 2020, the time for Beto O’Rourke to win a solid statewide office would not be until 2022 when he could possibly run for Governor of Texas, once Governor Greg Abbott would be ending his second term. Even then the odds are still slim in such a right-wing state, thus leaving O’Rourke out of office for nearly four years.

Four years is a long time to be out of the political eye and he would likely not stand a chance.

Perhaps if he scored a Vice Presidential spot with a potential 2020 nominee, O’Rourke could successfully run for President in 2024, but these are all theoretical. If Beto O’Rourke is going to run for President of the United States, he must make calculated moves from this point on.

Many Democrats are not satisfied with the current bids for President and are begging for Beto. There has been a massive divide in American politics, causing people to stick directly to one side of politics. O’Rourke has voted in line with President Trump over 30% of the time, which is double what the other Democratic bids have voted in regards to Trump, according to the San Fransisco Chronicle. America needs middle ground. America needs moderates and not always stark one side or the other.

Beto O’Rourke could be the start for that.