Beto O'Rourke will challenge incumbent Greg Abbott in the 2022 Texas governor's race
Former 2020 presidential candidate and three-term congressmember Beto O'Rourke has announced a bid for governor of Texas in 2022, setting up a Democratic challenge to Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas Monthly reports.
"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," said O'Rourke on Twitter. "A Texas big enough for all of us."
Writes Texas Monthly, O'Rourke is "not expected to face any serious challengers for his party's nomination." And if he wins the race, he will become the "first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since 1994, ending the longest statewide losing streak in America for either party."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But of course, it won't be easy — Abbott has raised more money "than any governor in U.S. history," over the summer reporting a war chest of $55 million. And though Abbott's popularity has seen better days, O'Rourke isn't exactly the lone star messiah he might hope to be — an October University of Texas poll found that 50 percent of respondents held an unfavorable view of O'Rourke, versus 48 percent who disapproved of Abbott, per Texas Monthly.
"I want to ... get past this smallness and divisiveness that Greg Abbott has brought to Texas," O'Rourke told Texas Monthly, criticizing Abbott's mismanagement of the state power grid and his stance on gender and race education in public schools, among other issues.
He added that he hopes to, over the next year, "make this case both about how Abbott has failed Texas and what we can do to ensure that this state truly reaches its potential."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
How Black organizations quickly pivoted and mobilized for Kamala Harris
In the spotlight Harris has a shot at being the first Black woman to lead the Democratic ticket
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia bombs Kyiv children's hospital
Speed Reads The daytime barrage interrupted heart surgeries and killed at least 40 people
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published