O'Rourke announces he is running for Texas governor

Democrat Beto O’Rourke announced today that he is throwing his hat in the ring for the race for Texas governor in 2022.

“I’m running for governor,” the former U.S. representative from El Paso tweeted. “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.”

In the Monday morning tweet was a prerecorded video focused on the disaster this past February in the midst of a winter storm that left millions without electricity. He said this not only meant no lights or heat for people, but it also meant the water stopped flowing and pipes froze.

Beto O'Rourke during his 2019 run for president. He will oppose Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. | Phil Roeder/Creative Commons

“They were abandoned by those elected to serve and look out for them,” O’Rourke said. “It is a symptom of a much larger problem in Texas right now. Those in positions of public trust have stopped listening to, serving and paying attention to, and trusting the people of Texas. So they are not focused on the things we really want them to do.”

O’Rourke said better leadership is needed to make sure Texas has a functioning electricity grid, is creating top jobs, is focusing on education and making progress on expanding Medicaid and legalizing marijuana.

“Instead they are focusing on the kind of extremist policies around abortion or permitless carry, or even in our schools that really only divide us and keep us apart, and stop us from working together on the truly big things we want to achieve for one another,” O’Rourke said. “It’s a really small vision for such a big state.”

O’Rourke said while Texans were left out to dry during the February energy crisis, it was a time when residents put aside differences and helped their neighbors.

“We did this out of a sense of duty and responsibility to one another,” he said. “Now imagine if the governor of Texas felt that same way.”

O'Rourke's potential candidacy has been a subject of discussion in the Lone Star State. In 2018, O’Rourke had an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate against Ted Cruz, and he also had a brief unsuccessful run for president.

O’Rourke, who has run for office three times in five years, is the only Democrat taking on Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican.

A recent poll by the Texas Tribune showed that if the election were held today, Abbott would hold a 9 point margin over O’Rourke. This was based on a poll of Texas registered voters last month.

Abbott, who is seeking a third term, has an approval rating of 48%. The Texas Tribune also reported that 50% disapproved of O’Rourke and only 35% felt favorable about him. O’Rourke is liked by Democrats and very much disapproved of by Republicans, but it is the views of independents that is very telling, as only 22% view him favorably while 48% disapprove.

The Texas Tribune added that Abbott has also struggled with independent voters with 27% approving of his job and 57% disapproving.

Abbott has criticized O'Rourke's comments pertaining to defunding the police, and says he is aligned with President Joe Biden's policies.

"Beto O'Rourke has demonstrated he has more in common with President Biden than he does with Texans," a statement by Abbott's office said. "Gov. Abbott proudly supports the men and women of law enforcement, has deployed Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety personnel and resources to secure the border, and has created a business climate that has made Texas the economic engine of America. The last thing Texans need is President Biden's radical liberal agenda coming to Texas under the guise of Beto O'Rourke. The contrast for the direction of Texas couldn't be clearer."