Beto O’Rourke announces Texas gubernatorial bid

Amber CoakleyNovember 15, 2021

FILE – Democrat Beto O’Rourke listens to a volunteer before a Texas Organizing Project neighborhood walk in West Dallas in this June 9, 2021 file photo. O’Rourke is running for governor of Texas. The former El Paso congressman announced his decision Monday, Nov. 15. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 11:09 AM PT – Monday, November 15, 2021

Beto O’Rourke, a failed Democrat candidate in more than one election, has thrown his hat in the ring to become the next governor of Texas. He made the announcement Monday in a video posted to Twitter.

The El Paso-born Democrat built his reputation on suggesting buy-back programs for firearms, his aggressive approach to so-called climate change and calls for universal health care.

In his announcement, he suggested Republicans are the ones implementing policies that divide while pointing to the pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and anti-critical race theory efforts made by the GOP in recent months.

I’m running for governor.

Together, we can push past the small and divisive politics that we see in Texas today — and get back to the big, bold vision that used to define Texas. A Texas big enough for all of us.

Join us: https://t.co/eMY5wwf6an pic.twitter.com/yrG1WOkpqk

— Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) November 15, 2021

This marks his third run for office in as many election cycles after failing to win a Senate seat in 2018 and an extremely short-lived presidential run in 2020. O’Rourke faces an increasingly red state as Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the governor’s mansion since 1990.