Politics & Policy
November 30, 2022
Texas Held an Election. Most Voters Didn’t Come.
Every two years the Democrats claim they will win by turning out new voters. Every two years they fail.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Beto O'Rourke
Latest
1-50 of 154 Articles
Politics & Policy
November 10, 2022
Texas Democrats Are the Charlie Brown of Political Parties
Every two years, the party tries to kick the football—and every two years, it misses. Good grief!
Politics & Policy
November 2, 2022
The Mysteries of Texas’s Midterm Elections
Republicans are pursuing South Texas Latinos. Democrats are counting on the Dobbs abortion decision. Nobody knows who’s going to turn out to vote. And the polls are all over the place.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
October 26, 2022
Sorry, Democrats, Texas Is Not Secretly a Blue State
Millions of eligible Texans don't vote. That doesn't mean they're liberals-in-waiting.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2022
Is Dan Patrick Campaigning—Or Auditioning to Be a Travel Influencer?
The lieutenant governor’s rural bus tour looks more like an extended vacation than a reelection bid.
Politics & Policy
September 30, 2022
Friday Night Sound Bites: The Debate Between Beto O’Rourke and Greg Abbott Happened, but Did It Matter?
It’s become a Texas tradition to hold brief gubernatorial debates during high school football prime time.
Politics & Policy
September 28, 2022
Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke Are Finally Debating. Here’s What They Need to Be Asked.
Ahead of Friday’s gubernatorial debate, Texas Monthly’s news and politics team came up with hard questions for both candidates.
Politics & Policy
September 13, 2022
What Makes Beto Run—Again?
On his summer barnstorming tour of Texas, Beto O’Rourke argued that Republicans are waging war against Texas values.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Books
September 6, 2022
Is Everyone Welcome in Texas?
Three new books remind us that some of the issues roiling the state have been with us for a very long time.
Politics & Policy
July 18, 2022
Texas Democrats Know They Need a New Leader. They Settled for the Old One.
At this weekend’s convention in Dallas, a contentious election for party chair revealed racial and gender-based fault lines.
Politics & Policy
June 28, 2022
Ten Years of Magical Thinking
Gilberto Hinojosa has led the Texas Democratic Party through a decade of failure. Some Democrats think that’s long enough.
Politics & Policy
June 7, 2022
Greg Abbott Once Promised to End School Shootings, but After Uvalde His Tone Has Changed
After ten Texans were murdered at Santa Fe High School in 2018, the Legislature passed seventeen school safety bills. They didn’t work.
Politics & Policy
April 29, 2022
Are Texas Republicans on the Verge of Winning Hispanic Majorities?
Greg Abbott says yes. New polling tells a different story.
Politics & Policy
April 26, 2022
Cancel Culture Comes for Beto O’Rourke
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate says he wants to have a dialogue with Texans of all persuasions. But in one rural community, Republicans worked to make sure he would have no place to talk or listen.
Politics & Policy
March 10, 2022
Texas Democrats Have a Recruitment Problem
Beyond Beto O’Rourke, the candidates on the party’s statewide slate are short on experience in elective office and in statewide campaigns.
Politics & Policy
February 4, 2022
What Do Texans Want? Progressive Policies and Conservative Politicians.
That’s among our four takeaways from recent polling, as the primary election approaches.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
January 14, 2022
Why Joy Diaz Is Challenging Beto O’Rourke in the Democratic Primary for Governor
The daughter of Mexico City missionaries and former public radio reporter thinks the El Paso congressman can’t reach Republicans—and she believes in miracles.
Politics & Policy
November 23, 2021
Julián Castro Was Once the Texas Democratic Party’s Future. Now He’s Adjusting to Life on the Sidelines.
The former mayor of San Antonio talks about his political future, Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial bid, and why Democrats are losing ground in South Texas.
Politics & Policy
November 15, 2021
Exclusive: Beto O’Rourke Is Running for Governor
The former congressman from El Paso talked to Texas Monthly about why he thinks he can beat Greg Abbott, whether he regrets his 2020 presidential campaign, and whether his politics are too liberal for Texas.
Politics & Policy
September 23, 2021
Beto O’Rourke Is the Democrats’ Least Bad Option to Challenge Greg Abbott
He isn’t as strong a candidate in 2021 as he was in 2018, but Beto O’Rourke is still the Democrats’ least bad option to challenge Greg Abbott.
Politics & Policy
August 13, 2021
Texas Democrats Are Relying On Politicians Who Lost in 2020 to Carry Them in 2022
Three failed candidates, including Beto O’Rourke, lead ambitious voter-registration efforts. And they're assuming no changes are needed in their positions.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
February 11, 2021
There’s One Thing Missing in the Biden Administration: Texans
Lone Star Democrats have almost nowhere to hang their hats in the most diverse administration in U.S. history.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
January 28, 2021
The (Fake) Beto Diaries, Vol. 6: I’m (Thinking About Being) Back, Baby
Our hero contemplates a run for governor.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2020
Beto O’Rourke Kicked the Hornet’s Nest in 2018. Republican Votes Spilled Out.
After a too-close-for-comfort Senate race two years ago, the Texas GOP went into overdrive to ensure the state would not be won in 2020 by newly hopeful Democrats.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2020
Bull Session: Louie Gohmert Has a Cure for the Coronavirus—Imagination!
Plus, the Texas Freedom Caucus projects its own dangerous fantasies, and even more stir-crazy pols.
Politics & Policy
March 5, 2020
Bull Session: Did Biden Win Texas by Courting the Whataburger Vote?
Plus, Beto’s bandmate blasts his Biden endorsement, Mike Bloomberg comprende Tejas, Dan Crenshaw vs. Pete Davidson, and Dan Patrick vs. shirts.
Politics & Policy
March 4, 2020
We Regret to Inform You That Liking Whataburger Is Not a Personality
Dear candidates: Please stop with the pandering.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
February 6, 2020
Bull Session: Donald Trump Remembers the Beautiful, Beautiful Alamo
Plus, Taylor Swift honors Beto O’Rourke in song, and hard-right scandalmongers Empower Texans expand into BBQ reviews.
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2020
Bull Session: Greg Abbott’s Historic Summit With Wesley Snipes
Plus, Ted Cruz takes on Stephen King (again), Eliz Markowitz does her best Willie, America Ferrera leaves Vicente Gonzalez hanging, and more!
Politics & Policy
January 16, 2020
Bull Session: Beto Is Still Out Here Standing on Stuff
Plus, Chip Roy blames California, Paul Bettencourt targeted by liberal hackers, and other extremely on-brand happenings
Politics & Policy
January 9, 2020
Bull Session: Texas Republicans Rally Around Ricky Gervais and Enrique Iglesias Dances to the Tune of $485,000
Plus, Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke are on the rebound, and Tony Buzbee is on another bender.
Politics & Policy
December 26, 2019
The Last Decade’s Ten Worst Years in Texas Politics
We stumble down memory lane, gawking at the madness and the mayhem of 2010–2019—and looking for an off-ramp.
Politics & Policy
December 19, 2019
Bull Session: Remember the Alamo? And Wendy Davis? And That Peloton Ad?
Ever since 2014, the Alamo has become the locus of a notably less cinematic war, all raging around the controversial plan to renovate and redesign it.
Politics & Policy
December 18, 2019
2020 Bum Steer of the Year: Beto O’Rourke
For abandoning the state that had lifted him up from obscurity, Beto O’Rourke is the winner of one half of our annual booby prize!
Politics & Policy
December 18, 2019
The 2020 Bum Steer Awards
Beto O'Rourke, Dennis Bonnen, and the Houston Astros make our annual dishonor roll, along with assorted lesser-known idiots and evildoers.
Politics & Policy
December 5, 2019
Bull Session: Rick Perry Beats a Hasty, Slow-motion Retreat
Chip Roy, Chris Putnam, and the specters of Trump and Beto were also running this week.
Politics & Policy
November 6, 2019
Texas Counties Are Declaring Themselves ‘Second Amendment Sanctuaries.’ But What Does That Mean, Exactly?
Spooked by the gun control debate, some rural Texas communities say they will defy “unconstitutional” gun laws, though it’s not clear how they would do so.
Politics & Policy
November 5, 2019
The (Fake) Beto Diaries, Vol. 5: Journey’s End
Our hero’s odyssey ends where it started: with him.
Politics & Policy
November 4, 2019
Beto’s Mega-Hyped Local Act Disappoints in Major-Label Debut
Despite obvious talent and a dedicated fanbase, the El Paso native’s big national release is uninspired.
Politics & Policy
November 1, 2019
Beto O’Rourke Calls It Quits
When Beto left Texas, he lost his way.
Sports
October 7, 2019
Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke Are Both Pretty Disgusted About the NBA Pandering to China
Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted support for protesters in Hong Kong, and all hell broke loose—in ways that even united the two rivals.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
September 19, 2019
Veronica vs. the Swamp
Veronica Escobar, the first Latina to represent El Paso in Congress, isn’t afraid of playing the Washington game—as long as it means the Texas borderlands get the respect they deserve.
Politics & Policy
September 13, 2019
Thursday Night Lights: Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro Fight for Relevancy at the Houston Debate
Beto vs. Julian, Castro tries to shank Biden, why the debate format sucks, and (bonus!) a snoozy Latinos for Trump rally.
Politics & Policy
September 13, 2019
The Six Texas Politicians Addicted to Twitter—For Better or Worse
A decidedly unscientific appraisal of why the hell they bother.
Border & Immigration
August 29, 2019
What Texas Latino Leaders Want to Hear at the Democratic Debate in Houston
In the aftermath of the El Paso shooting, party leaders expect the presidential candidates to address racism and immigration.
Music
August 21, 2019
Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro’s Campaign Playlists Are Meaningless (But One Is Clearly Better)
An analysis of the two Texan presidential candidates’ rally songs.
Politics & Policy
July 22, 2019
The 2020 Texas Polling is Much Better for Beto O’Rourke than Julián Castro
O'Rourke and Castro's polling in Texas is virtually unchanged from a month ago. That’s good news for only one of them.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
July 16, 2019
Should Beto O’Rourke Drop Out?
His fundraising is bad, his poll numbers are worse, and some Texans still think he should run for Senate.
Border & Immigration
July 1, 2019
Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro are Fighting Over Who Gets to Be “The Texan”
“The other Texan” went after the former Senate candidate, who responded by stepping on a long-scheduled Austin rally.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 27, 2019
The (Fake) Beto Diaries, Vol. 4 — Post-Debate
Bienvenidos de Miami.