Name: With few other options, Texas Democrats need Beto O’Rourke to challenge GOP Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022
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With few other options, Texas Democrats need Beto O’Rourke to challenge GOP Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022

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5:30 AM on Mar 15, 2021 CDTWith few other viable options, Texas Democrats are hoping that next year former Rep. Beto O’Rourke challenges Republican incumbent Greg Abbott for governor.The El Paso Democrat is considering running for governor, saying that Abbott has failed Texas during the pandemic. He later criticized his handling of the February winter storm that left millions of Texans without power and water. That has fueled speculation that O’Rourke is all but in the governor’s race, even though he’s just as likely to opt against the underdog campaign.“It’s very hard for us to recruit candidates right now, when you have somebody looking like he’s going to run,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa told me last week. “Right now we’re just taking a wait and see attitude on this thing.”Hinojosa didn’t rule out former U.S. Housing Secretary and former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro as a potential candidate, even though Castro has already opted against running in 2022.“Beto is out there. Julián’s out there. I’m figuring one of them is going to run,” Hinojosa said. “We should know pretty soon.”Texas Democrats need O’Rourke because they have no one else who can beat Abbott, a well-known political figure with a huge campaign fund and formidable grassroots army. O’Rourke would also be likely to lose to Abbott, but would give Democrats a credible candidate who can raise money, develop and deploy a volunteer army and — for the first time since 2014 — force Abbott to focus on his reelection bid, instead of using his considerable resources to help down-ballot Republicans.Related:It would be a race worth watching, and Abbott has already taken a swipe at O’Rourke, pointing out that as a presidential contender he pledged to confiscate assault weapons.“Politicians from the federal level to the local level have shouted: ‘Heck yes, the government is coming to get your guns,’” Abbott said of the one-time presidential contender. “We won’t let that happen in Texas.”And the most vulnerable — those who can’t afford what you’re selling — are left to their own devices. Like the foster kids sleeping under the desks at CPS offices. And the 11 children who died in state care last year. 7/8— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke)But Democrats might have to challenge Abbott with another, lesser-known nominee.The filing deadline is in December and O’Rourke hasn’t put together a campaign team. He’s been teaching at Texas State University, and though he’ll help the Democratic Party’s effort to upend Abbott, he may not want to risk a third high-profile defeat in four years.Related:Cruz’s seat is up in 2024, and O’Rourke could be contemplating another run for Senate. That race could feature Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, since Cruz might run for president instead of reelection. In 2018 Cruz beat O’Rourke by 2.6 percentage points.Whatever the scenario, Democrats may be forced to shape a 2022 statewide ticket without their party’s best statewide candidate.Democrats aren’t without political stars, but most of them are still rising and are unknown to most Texans.In Congress, Reps. Colin Allred of Dallas, Veronica Escobar of El Paso and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio are all considered blue chippers. Allred and Escobar aren’t ready to give up congressional seats for a statewide run. Castro considered running for governor or attorney general in 2018. He’s also expected to stay in Congress.North Texas contenders currently in the Texas Legislature include state Sens. Royce West of Dallas and Beverly Powell of Burleson, along with state Rep. Raphael Anchia of Dallas. West was the runner-up to Round Rock Democrat MJ Hegar for the Democratic Party Senate nomination. He’s not expected to run statewide in 2022. Anchia has been cautious about challenging statewide. Powell could be an option for a number of statewide races, but like many Democrats in office, is unknown to voters outside of her district.Elsewhere, former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards, who ran for Senate in 2020, could be a contender for lieutenant governor against incumbent Dan Patrick or attorney general against incumbent Ken Paxton. She’s not expected to challenge Abbott.Other contenders for governor include former 2020 Senate candidate and labor activist Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez.On the local government front, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is getting rave reviews and is seen as a future candidate for higher office, but campaigning against Abbott is likely too much too soon.Matthew McConaughey is teasing a run for governor, but Democrats are not banking on the actor being their great hope.No matter the options, Democrats have to put their muscle behind a credible candidate.After failing to win the Texas House or a statewide contest in 2020, it was unclear if Democrats would invest much political treasure in seriously challenging Abbott, the Goliath who has not come close to losing a statewide race.Democrats and others have slammed Abbott and the GOP leadership for not making sure that the Texas power delivery system was prepared for the ferocious winter storm that crippled the state.Now Democrats have to challenge Abbott in earnest, or appear not ready for prime time.For Democrats, It’s Beto or bust.Receive the latest political news delivered every Tuesday and Thursday from reporters in Austin, Dallas and Washington.By signing up you agree to our

5:30 AM on Mar 15, 2021 CDTWith few other viable options, Texas Democrats are hoping that next year former Rep. Beto O’Rourke challenges Republican incumbent Greg Abbott for governor.The El Paso Democrat is considering running for governor, saying that Abbott has failed Texas during the pandemic. He later criticized his handling of the February winter storm that left millions of Texans without power and water. That has fueled speculation that O’Rourke is all but in the governor’s race, even though he’s just as likely to opt against the underdog campaign.“It’s very hard for us to recruit...

With few other options, Texas Democrats need Beto O’Rourke to challenge GOP Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022

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