Former Texas Representative Beto O’Rourke is considering whether Senator John Cornyn will enter the race for the Texas Senate seat among those in the primary battle.
O’Rourke, a Democrat, has faced defeat in three elections since his last mayoral campaign in 2016, yet he has kept his candidacy open despite Colin Allred, another Democrat, officially announcing his intention to run.
“I’m not really sure. I’m holding town halls throughout Texas and trying to, I don’t know, unite people and, um, channel their feelings,” O’Rourke shared during an appearance on CNN’s “The State of the Union” this past Sunday.
“But I’m quite hopeful about the opportunities for Democrats in 2026,” he added, reflecting on his past experiences in the political arena.
The Texas Democrat, who served in Congress from 2013 to 2019, gained national attention in 2018 after a closely contested race against Senator Ted Cruz.
Though he lost to Cruz in that so-called “Blue Wave Year” by about 2.5 percentage points, O’Rourke has remained active in Texas politics.
After that campaign, he aimed for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew before the primaries took place. He later challenged incumbent Governor Greg Abbott in 2022 but lost by double digits.
Interestingly, O’Rourke didn’t challenge Cornyn during the 2020 elections, opting instead to focus on the presidential race.
Cornyn is currently facing a tough primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Cruz remains neutral on the sidelines.
Democrats hope to find a chance to flip Texas in 2026, as some view Paxton as a less formidable opponent than Cornyn in a general election.
Allred, who lost to Cruz by 8.5 percentage points in 2024, has positioned himself as a moderate Democrat. Still, many analysts believe 2026 could be a significant year for Democrats, given historical trends.
O’Rourke is urging Democrats to adopt a “ruthless” approach as they head towards the 2026 election cycle.
“We need to be serious. We must be absolutely relentless if we want to regain power,” he stressed.
He criticized Texas Republicans and is focusing on potential legislative redistricting that could shift congressional representation in favor of the Democratic Party, suggesting that other Democratic-controlled states should follow suit.
“With our current influence, we need to use it fully. It’s possible to confuse some Republican voters and create several new congressional districts,” he concluded.
