Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
39%
35.8%
24.4%
23.7%
Democrat
Beto O'Rourke
Democrat
Beto O'Rourke
Texas Democratic Senate nominee?
$14.6M
MAR 4, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer U.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age53 years old (Sep 26, 1972)
GenderMale
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LocationTexas
BackgroundPolitician
EducationWoodberry Forest School (graduated 1991)
Notable personal detailsRobert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke is an American politician and former business owner from El Paso, Texas. He served on the El Paso City Council (2005–2011) and represented Texas's 16th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2019). He later ran statewide as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and for Governor of Texas in 2022. He earned a B.A. from Columbia University.
SourcesShowHide
history.house.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgcfr.orgelle.comes.wikipedia.orgpresidency.ucsb.eduloc.govzh.wikipedia.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgen.wikiquote.orgfamousbirthdays.compolitifact.comen.geneastar.orgbritannica.comgovinfo.govreddit.comuc.eduportsmouthpubliclibrary.orgsoutherneducation.orgarxiv.orgtexastribune.orgcarbontax.orgontheissues.orgnewrepublic.comwashingtonpost.compbs.orgdallasnews.comnewsweek.comhoustonchronicle.comcbsnews.comaxios.comcnbc.comeuronews.comnewyorker.comtime.comfoxnews.comtexaspolitics.utexas.edutranscripts.cnn.combusiness.linkedin.comlearning.linkedin.comcdn.cnn.comabout.twitter.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgdemocrats-veterans.house.govveterans.house.govappropriations.house.govbost.house.govradiotv.house.govdocs.house.govcongress.govcreativecommons.orgupload.wikimedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgru.wikipedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgsubstack.govtrack.us
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports reversing much of the 2017 tax cuts by raising the top individual rate and partially restoring the corporate rate, increasing capital gains and dividend taxation, and imposing new taxes such as a small financial transactions tax; proposes using higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations to fund expanded public investments (infrastructure, clean energy, social programs, and veteran benefits).
Healthcare
Supports universal coverage through expanding existing programs and a government-run public option (often called "Medicare for America" or "Medicare-X") while preserving private employer plans for those who want them; has said he does not support immediately replacing private insurance with a single-payer Medicare for All implementation. He has emphasized expanding Medicaid in non-expansion states and allowing buy-ins to Medicare as near-term steps.
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Immigration & Border
Supports a sweeping, humanitarian-focused rewrite of U.S. immigration law that includes an earned pathway to citizenship for roughly 11 million undocumented residents, protections and fast-tracks for Dreamers and TPS recipients, halting construction of the border wall, and reforms to the asylum system while increasing regional investments to address root causes of migration.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports broad abortion access and has criticized federal and Texas restrictions on abortion; he has said he would fight to restore or protect the legal framework that existed under Roe v. Wade and has expressed trust in women and their doctors to make reproductive decisions. He has criticized the Hyde Amendment and stated he would seek to repeal Texas laws that restrict abortion. Specifics on gestational limits have not been consistently specified in public statements.
Climate & Energy
Supports ambitious climate action including a large federal investment plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, rejoining the Paris Agreement, and major spending to accelerate clean energy, infrastructure, and resilience for communities affected by climate impacts. Has proposed large-scale funding and policy changes to spur clean-technology investment and to end or reduce fossil-fuel subsidies.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strong federal gun-safety measures including an assault-weapons ban with a mandatory buyback, universal background checks, a federal red-flag law, and additional restrictions such as limits on high-capacity magazines and tighter licensing/registration requirements for gun purchasers.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 11, 2026
Beto O'Rourke is in the news mainly because the Texas Senate race has moved into the general-election phase after Ken Paxton won the Republican runoff and became the GOP nominee. Recent coverage says Republicans are now bracing for a potentially competitive race in Texas, while Democrats report strong fundraising in battleground Senate contests, including Texas. The broader reporting also notes that Texas remains a key Senate battleground for both parties.
history.house.gov+58
Articles
NNewsmax11 days ago
Pence: GOP Has Lost Its Way, But Dems 'Have Lost Their Mind'
Neutral
TNThe New York Times16 days ago
Cornyn Crushed: 6 Takeaways From Tuesday’s Runoffs in Texas
Neutral
TDThe Dallas Morning News7 days ago
How did Tarrant County vote in the Senate runoff?
Neutral
TDThe Dallas Morning News12 days ago
‘What’s the connection?’ and other pertinent quotes of the week
Neutral
Polls
Texas Democratic Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising