Beto O'Rourke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beto O'Rourke
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O'Rourke in 2024
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 16th district |
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| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Silvestre Reyes |
| Succeeded by | Veronica Escobar |
| Mayor pro tempore of El Paso | |
| In office June 14, 2005 – June 20, 2006 |
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| Mayor | John Cook |
| Preceded by | Anthony Cobos |
| Succeeded by | Presi Ortega |
| Member of the El Paso City Council from the 8th district |
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| In office June 1, 2005 – June 27, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Anthony Cobos |
| Succeeded by | Cortney Niland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Francis O'Rourke
September 26, 1972 El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Amy Sanders
(m. 2005) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Pat O'Rourke (father) |
| Education | Columbia University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke (born September 26, 1972) is an American politician from El Paso, Texas. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 16th district from 2013 to 2019.
O'Rourke has run for several major offices. He was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas in 2018. He also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. In 2022, he was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Texas.
He was born into a family involved in local politics. After graduating from Columbia University, he returned to El Paso. He started a business and later entered politics. In 2005, he was elected to the El Paso City Council, where he served until 2011. In 2012, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Francis O'Rourke was born in El Paso, Texas. His family gave him the nickname "Beto" when he was a baby. His father, Pat O'Rourke, was also involved in politics in El Paso.
As a teenager, O'Rourke became interested in punk rock music. He felt the punk scene gave him a sense of community. He also joined a computer hacker group called the Cult of the Dead Cow.
O'Rourke attended El Paso High School before enrolling in a boarding school in Virginia. He later went to Columbia University in New York City. He was co-captain of the university's rowing team. He graduated in 1995 with a degree in English literature. He speaks both English and Spanish fluently.
Career Before Politics
Music
During his college years, O'Rourke played bass guitar in a band called Foss. The band was formed with his friends from El Paso. They toured the United States and Canada during the summer. In 1993, they released a demo and a record. The do-it-yourself attitude of the punk scene later influenced his political campaigns.
Business
After college, O'Rourke worked several jobs in New York before returning to El Paso in 1998. In 2000, he co-founded Stanton Street Technology Group, a company that provided internet services. He was also involved in many local community groups, including the Rotary Club and United Way.
Political Career
O'Rourke's father was active in politics, and Beto often went with him to political events. This early experience helped him become more comfortable with public life.
El Paso City Council
In 2005, O'Rourke ran for the El Paso City Council and won. He was one of the youngest people ever to serve on the council. He was re-elected in 2007.
As a council member, he supported a plan to redevelop downtown El Paso. In 2009, he sponsored a resolution to discuss the nation's drug laws. He was concerned about the violence in the nearby city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 2012, O'Rourke ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. He won the Democratic primary election against the long-serving incumbent, Silvestre Reyes. He then won the general election with 65% of the vote.
As a Congressman, O'Rourke held a town hall meeting every month to talk with the people he represented. He worked with Republican Congressman Steve Pearce on a bill to improve oversight of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
He was re-elected in 2014 and 2016. In 2016, he supported Tim Ryan for leader of the Democrats in the House, saying it was time for new leadership. O'Rourke decided not to run for his House seat again in 2018, choosing instead to run for the U.S. Senate.
2018 U.S. Senate Campaign
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On March 31, 2017, O'Rourke announced he would run for the U.S. Senate against the incumbent Republican, Ted Cruz. No Democrat had won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, so many thought his campaign was a long shot.
O'Rourke campaigned in all 254 counties of Texas. His campaign gained national attention for its large crowds and use of social media. He livestreamed his travels, showing him doing everyday things like skateboarding or doing laundry.
His campaign raised a record-breaking amount of money, over $80 million, mostly from small donations. He promised not to take money from special interest groups called PACs.
In the election on November 6, 2018, Cruz defeated O'Rourke. Cruz received 50.9% of the vote, while O'Rourke received 48.3%. Even though he lost, O'Rourke received more votes than any Democrat had ever received in a Texas election. His strong performance was also credited with helping other Democrats win local elections.
2020 Presidential Campaign
After his Senate race, many people wondered if O'Rourke would run for president in 2020. On March 14, 2019, he announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.
His campaign, however, did not gain as much support as his Senate race. On November 1, 2019, he ended his presidential campaign. He later endorsed Joe Biden for president.
2022 Texas Governor Campaign
On November 15, 2021, O'Rourke announced he was running for Governor of Texas. He challenged the incumbent Republican Governor, Greg Abbott.
O'Rourke easily won the Democratic nomination in March 2022. In the general election, he was defeated by Abbott. O'Rourke received 43.8% of the vote compared to Abbott's 54.9%. This was his third unsuccessful campaign for a major office.
Political Positions
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Political experts have described O'Rourke's views as progressive or liberal. He has been a member of the pro-business New Democrat Coalition. He has said he doesn't know where he fits on the political spectrum.
Key Issues
- Business: O'Rourke supports laws to prevent monopolies and encourage competition. He believes this helps the economy and protects consumers.
- Education: He wants to increase federal funding for public schools, especially in low-income areas. He also supports higher pay for teachers.
- Environment: O'Rourke supports actions to fight global warming, such as putting a price on carbon emissions and using more renewable energy.
- Gun Policy: He supports universal background checks for buying firearms. After a mass shooting in El Paso in 2019, he called for a ban on certain types of rifles. He later changed his position, saying he is not interested in taking guns from anyone.
- Immigration: O'Rourke supports a complete reform of the immigration system. He has criticized harsh rhetoric about immigrants and opposed the separation of families at the border.
- Social Issues: O'Rourke supports a woman's right to choose and marriage equality. He has also spoken out against racial inequality.
Personal Life
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O'Rourke's father died in a bicycling accident in 2001. O'Rourke delivered the eulogy at his funeral.
On September 24, 2005, O'Rourke married Amy Hoover Sanders. Her father, Bill Sanders, is a well-known real estate developer. The couple has three children and lives in El Paso.
O'Rourke is a lifelong Catholic but has said he disagrees with some of the Church's teachings.
Images for kids
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O'Rourke senatorial campaign rally in Austin, Texas, November 2018
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O'Rourke senatorial campaign logo
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O'Rourke at a presidential campaign event in April 2019
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Logo for "Powered by People", the political action committee O'Rourke launched in December 2019
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O'Rourke at the Inter-American Dialogue conference in 2016
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See also
In Spanish: Beto O'Rourke para niños
- Electoral history of Beto O'Rourke
