How old is Beto O’Rourke and is he running for Texas governor?
AFTER announcing his bid for the 2020 presidential election, Beto O'Rourke announced he is running for governor of Texas.
A former El Paso congressman, O'Rourke made the announcement on November 15, 2021
How old is Beto O'Rourke?
is 49 years old.
The dad-of-three was born on September 26, 1972, to El Paso County Judge Pat O'Rourke and Melissa Martha.
His step-grandfather Fred Korth was the Secretary of the Navy under President John F. Kennedy and he obtained the Spanish nickname Beto from loved ones, who were keen to distinguish him from his grandad who shared the same name.
O'Rourke shares three children, Ulysses, Henry, and Molly with his wife, Amy Hoover Sanders, 35.
In July 2001, when his father was 58 years old, he was killed after he was struck by a passing car while riding his bike.
What did Beto O'Rourke say about his campaign for governor?
O'Rourke's run for governor makes him the only Democrat to run against Republican Governor Greg Abbott in the election.
In an interview with Nexstar’s Maggie Glynn, O'Rourke said he is focusing on what Texas residents are most concerned about including increasing the quality of public schools, ensuring jobs are created in the state and expanding Medicaid.
In opposition to his political opponent, O'Rourke said he wants to bring both sides of politics together instead of what he says, is a current divide between Republicans and Democrats.
"What we have right now in Texas, under Greg Abbott, is this very divisive kind of politics that has kept us apart, and fighting over things like abortion, or the permitless carry gun laws, or which middle school girls can play which sports, I want this state to get back to doing the big things, the big, bold vision of Texas that used to define this state.
"That’s what’s so important to so many of us, regardless of political party, or any other differences. So I hope that as a candidate, hope as governor, I can serve everyone and help to bring us together bridge some of these divisions, and get the big things done that most Texans want us to work on."
In response to O'Rourke's announcement that he is running for governor, a spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott said, "The last thing Texans need is President Biden’s radical liberal agenda coming to Texas under the guise of Beto O’Rourke,"
"The contrast for the direction of Texas couldn’t be clearer."
The election is setting up to be a competitive one as Democrats have a formidable candidate running against Abbott.
O'Rourke doesn't seem to be backing down and he said, "He (Abbott) doesn’t trust women to make their health care decisions, doesn’t trust police chiefs when they tell him not to sign the permitless carry bill into law, he doesn’t trust voters so he changes the rules of our elections, and he doesn’t trust local communities.”
What is his background?
O'Rourke graduated from Columbia University in 1995 with a degree in English Literature.
After college, he worked as a caretaker before moving to an internet service provider and then a proofreader for H. W. Wilson Company.
In 1999 he co-founded Stanton Street Technology Group, an internet services and software company that his wife now manages. However, he kicked off his political career in 2013 when he represented Texas' 16th congressional district in the US House of Representatives before taking a step back in 2019.
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