Top Democrat Cancels Senate Run
Austin, TX — Former Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke, best known for his repeated failed campaigns, is once again flirting with a return to the ballot. This time, he’s considering a 2026 U.S. Senate run to challenge Republican Senator John Cornyn.
During an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, O’Rourke dodged a firm commitment but hinted at another run.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked if he plans to run. “Right now, I’m holding town halls across Texas and around the country, listening to people, organizing, and registering voters.”
O’Rourke’s political résumé includes three consecutive losses:
- 2018: Lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in a high-profile Senate race
- 2020: Dropped out of the Democratic presidential primaries
- 2022: Defeated by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in the Texas gubernatorial race
Despite this losing streak, O’Rourke says he’s “very optimistic” about Democrats’ chances in 2026.
He referenced the 2018 midterm elections—during which President Trump galvanized strong Republican voter participation—as a time when Democrats made some inroads at the state level. O’Rourke highlighted Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and former Congressman Colin Allred as Democrats who managed to unseat well-established, financially backed GOP incumbents.
Ironically, Colin Allred recently lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024. But he has now announced his intention to run against Cornyn in 2026—raising questions about whether Democrats are recycling the same losing strategies in deep-red Texas.
O’Rourke also referenced a 2018 judicial wave in Harris County, where 17 Black women were elected as judges. He called it a “transformational” moment for Texas, while critics argue it marked a sharp turn toward activist-style courts.
He closed by accusing President Trump of “extremism” and warned that “there will be a price” for Trump-era policies in the upcoming election cycle.
“We’ll see that play out in 2026,” he said.
✅ Key Takeaways for Conservative Voters:
- Beto O’Rourke is once again considering a Senate run despite his history of defeat.
- Democrats are pushing the same figures who consistently fail to win over Texas voters.
- President Trump’s America-first policies continue to outperform progressive messaging in red states.
- The 2026 election may shape up to be a referendum on far-left influence in Texas politics.
