Beto O’Rourke Announces Bid for Texas Governor

November 15, 2021 by Reece Nations
Beto O’Rourke Announces Bid for Texas Governor
Democrat Beto O'Rourke listens to a volunteer before a Texas Organizing Project neighborhood walk in West Dallas on June 9, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

EL PASO, Texas — Former El Paso congressman and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke announced on Monday that he is running for governor of Texas.

In the video announcing his candidacy, O’Rourke focused closely on the Texas government’s slow response to Winter Storm Uri in February that struck the state and caused rolling blackouts for days afterward — bringing the reliability of the state’s power grid into focus and complicating COVID-19 vaccine rollout efforts. O’Rourke seeks to end his party’s losing streak and become the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994.

“It’s a symptom of a much larger problem that we have in Texas right now,” O’Rourke said in the video address. “Those in positions of public trust have stopped listening to, serving, paying attention to and trusting the people of Texas–and so they’re not focused on the things that we really want them to do.”

O’Rourke contrasted his vision for Texas with some of Gov. Greg Abbott’s “extremist policies,” such as the state’s abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy, permitless carry or his executive order banning mask mandates in public schools. In his words, O’Rourke said Abbott’s eagerness to shift his agenda further to the right only serves to “divide” Texans and prevent actions that many already agree with, like ensuring the reliability of the electrical grid, legalizing marijuana and expanding Medicaid. 

Further, O’Rourke maintained Abbott’s intent represented a “really small vision for such a big state,” and that the people of Texas possess the initiative to change that vision just as they took responsibility for recovery efforts after February’s unprecedented winter weather.

“When the electricity grid failed and those in power failed all of us, it was the people of Texas who were willing to put their differences behind them and get to work doing the job at hand, which meant helping our fellow Texans get through that crisis,” O’Rourke said. “We did this out of a sense of duty and responsibility to one another. Now imagine if the governor of Texas felt that same way. Well, there’s something that you and I can do about that.”

O’Rourke will need to tap back into the public enthusiasm that surrounded his 2018 U.S. Senate race, which he lost by a slim margin to incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Abbott is seeking reelection for his third term as governor. Abbott’s campaign prepared for O’Rourke’s announcement by launching a preemptive attack advertisement entitled “Wrong Way O’Rourke,” infused with provocative quotes from his 2020 presidential campaign in which he voices support for a single-payer health care system, gun confiscation and the Green New Deal.

Since 2013, Abbott has accepted more than $120 million in political contributions — more money than any other governor in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press. Texas’ contentious 2018 Senate race between Cruz and O’Rourke resulted in a combined candidate spending of over $100 million between the two campaigns.

Abbott acknowledged O’Rourke’s announcement on Twitter by insisting his opponent was campaigning to “defund the police,” “kill good paying oil [and] gas jobs,” “allow chaotic open border policies,” “support the failing Biden agenda,” and “impose socialism.”

Abbott challenged O’Rourke to “bring it.” The filing deadline for gubernatorial candidates is Dec. 13, and the primary is scheduled for March 1, 2022, ahead of the general election next November.

Reece can be reached at [email protected].

A+
a-
  • Beto O'Rourke
  • election
  • Texas
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Political News

    July 14, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Supreme Court Green-Lights Dismantling of Education Department

    WASHINGTON — In a major victory for the Trump administration, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the White House... Read More

    WASHINGTON — In a major victory for the Trump administration, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the White House can move forward with plans to lay off nearly 1,400 employees at the Department of Education. As is their custom in dispensing with emergency orders, the... Read More

    July 14, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Trump Gives Russia Ultimatum, Seeks Ukraine Deal in 50 Days

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a stiff ultimatum on Monday, threatening Russia with crippling new... Read More

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a stiff ultimatum on Monday, threatening Russia with crippling new tariffs if he does not end his war with Ukraine within the next 50 days. In addition the president announced the creation of a new weapons... Read More

    July 11, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    New Dems Roundtable Focuses on ‘Big Bill’s’ Impact on Clean Energy

    WASHINGTON — Members of the New Democrat Coalition traveled to Garner, North Carolina, on Friday to speak with voters about... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Members of the New Democrat Coalition traveled to Garner, North Carolina, on Friday to speak with voters about why they believe the sweeping domestic policy package their Republican colleagues passed last week will stymie the growth of a new, clean energy economy. The event... Read More

    July 11, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    Feds Seek to Green-Light Coal Exploration Project in Utah

    WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a proposed coal exploration project that would be... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a proposed coal exploration project that would be located in Utah’s Muddy Creek Canyon. The notice in the Federal Register on Friday is the first such announcement from the agency since 2019, and is... Read More

    July 11, 2025
    by Dan McCue
    President, First Lady, Head to Texas to Support Flood Recovery Effort

    WASHINGTON — President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are en route to west-central Texas this morning to show support... Read More

    WASHINGTON — President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are en route to west-central Texas this morning to show support to stricken families and emergency responders in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the region. Those responders and volunteers continue to search for at least 170... Read More

    AP Decision Notes: What to Expect in Arizona's Special Congressional Primaries

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight candidates will go before southern Arizona voters at the ballot box Tuesday in special congressional primaries to replace... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight candidates will go before southern Arizona voters at the ballot box Tuesday in special congressional primaries to replace longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March from complications from cancer treatment. The winners will represent their parties in a Sept. 23 special election to... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top