“he called marriage equality a core civil rights issue”
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Beto O'Rourke
Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, O'Rourke was the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2018, a candidate for the presidential nomination in 2020, and the party's nominee for the 2022 Texas gubernatorial election.
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business · American politician (born 1972) · politician · business executive · musician · businessperson · writer · also Beto O'Rourke, Robert Francis O'Rourke, O'Rourke
Born 26 September 1972 · Q4014532
102 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 6 entries
“nothing more American than to peacefully stand up, or take a knee, for your rights, anytime, anywhere or any place.”
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“Saudi Arabia must be held accountable. We must stop rewarding their bad behavior, whether it”
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Published video “All Eyes on Texas with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Beto O'Rourke”.
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Public attention spiked: 8,402 Wikipedia readers in one day, 10.6× the usual 796, with 0 article edits.
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Published video “Getting Janelle registered to vote”.
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2025· 11 entries
Published video “We're Registering Voters on College Campuses Across Texas”.
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Published video “You need to meet Elio”.
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Published video “Organizing in a County Trump Won by More Than 30 Points”.
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Published video “"We are the People:" Beto Speaks at No Kings Rally in Austin”.
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Published video “What I Heard During a Town Hall in Germany”.
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Published video “Here's a Positive Vision That Returns Power to the People:”.
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Published video “Trump Got His New Maps. Here's What We Do Now:”.
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Published video “LIVE from El Paso w/ Jasmine Crockett, Veronica Escobar, & Joaquin Castro”.
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The Guardian: Judge restrains Beto O’Rourke’s group from sending funds to Democrats outside Texas
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RealClearPolitics: Beto O'Rourke: When Dems Take Power Back "We're Gonna Drive That Car Like We Stole It," And Legalize Every Immigrant
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Fox News: Beto O'Rourke drops f-bomb as he urges Dems to 'meet fire with fire' against GOP redistricting plans in Texas
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2022· 10 entries
O'Rourke's sister, Erin, died at the age of 42; she suffered from intellectual disabilities and O'Rourke had been her legal guardian at one time
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Election lost: 2022 Texas gubernatorial election.
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The Guardian: Uvalde families stand with Beto O’Rourke amid Republican silence on gun reform
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The Guardian: 'This is on you': Beto O'Rourke calls out Texas governor for inaction after school shooting – video
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The Guardian: ‘This is on you’: Beto O’Rourke confronts Texas governor over mass shooting
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O'Rourke confronted Texas governor Greg Abbott during a press conference about the Robb Elementary School shooting that had occurred the day before and told the governor, "You are doing nothing
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The Guardian: Beto O’Rourke calls Texas governor Greg Abbott an ‘authoritarian’ and ‘thug’
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The Guardian: Texas primaries: Greg Abbott to face Beto O’Rourke in governor’s race
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O'Rourke won the Democratic nomination for the Texas gubernatorial election
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Campaign: 2022 Texas gubernatorial election.
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2021· 5 entries
The Guardian: Beto O’Rourke to run for governor of Texas in 2022 election
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The Guardian: Beto O’Rourke set to run against Greg Abbott for Texas governor – report
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The Guardian: Beto O’Rourke on Texas: ‘I don’t know that we’re a conservative state’
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The Guardian: Beto O’Rourke considering run for Texas governor
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Claimed: ““Energy experts and State House Dems, among others, were warning of this (the Texas power blackout) for years.”” — rated True by PolitiFact.
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2020· 2 entries
The Guardian: ‘You can win this!’: how Beto O'Rourke is becoming Joe Biden’s greatest ally
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Campaign: 2020 presidential election.
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2019· 12 entries
Due to a lack of traction and financial issues
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MSNBC cable news-show host Joe Scarborough asked O'Rourke how he, as president, would respond to non-compliance from those assault rifle owners who regard such a mandatory program as "an unjust law and unconstitutional
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FactCheck.org rated the claim “Beto O'Rourke is "a felon who is not allowed to possess a firearm of any type."” False.
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Claimed: “Workers living in the U.S. illegally who were swept up in immigration raids at chicken processing plants in Mississippi are “doing a job that no one else will do.”” — rated Spins the Facts by FactCheck.org.
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Claimed: ““A two-trillion tax cut that favored corporations.”” — rated Not quite right by The Washington Post.
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Claimed: “Purdue Pharma has "been able to act with complete impunity and pay no consequences."” — rated This is exaggerated. by ny times.
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Claimed: ““Disparities in infant mortality between white America and black America (are) greater today, in 2019, than in the year 1850...”” — rated Mostly True by PolitiFact.
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O'Rourke accused President Trump of collusion with Russia to "undermine and influence" U
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Claimed: “"Nearly half of public school teachers in Texas are working a second or a third job, not for kicks, not for extra spending cash, but just to make ends meet."” — rated Half True by PolitiFact.
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O'Rourke announced his candidacy in the 2020 United States presidential election
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Snopes rated the claim “U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke once said he would like to throw elderly people and wounded veterans "in the garbage."” False.
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“was a religious experience... I happen to have been raised Catholic, and what I take away from my religion is you do your best to love everyone, to be good to everyone.”
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2018· 15 entries
Cruz defeated O'Rourke, 50
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Election lost: 2018 U.S. Senate election.
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A CNN poll, conducted by SSRS, showed Cruz leading the campaign 52 percent to 45 percent among likely voters
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Claimed: ““I did not try to leave the scene of the accident, though driving drunk, which I did, is a terrible mistake for which there is no excuse or justification or defense, and I will not try to provide one.”” — rated Four Pinocchios by The Washington Post.
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A Quinnipiac poll based on phone interviews put Cruz nine points ahead of O'Rourke among likely voters, but a September 19 Ipsos online poll done in conjunction with Reuters and the University of Virginia showed O'Rourke
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Snopes rated the claim “Beto O'Rourke's campaign asked a Veterans of Foreign Wars post commander if American flags could be taken down ahead of an event.” Unproven.
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Snopes.com rated the claim “Claims made in a widely-shared 2018 meme about the personal and family history of Congressman Beto O'Rourke are accurate.” Mixture.
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Claimed: “"I don’t take a dime of PAC money."” — rated True by PolitiFact.
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O'Rourke told Alisyn Camerota of CNN: "We have a great tradition and culture of gun ownership and gun safety for hunting, for sport, for self-defense
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Published video “Speaking About Expanding Veteran Access to Mental Health Care”.
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That O'Rourke wanted "open borders and wants to take our guns
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“s performance while attending the 2018 Russia–United States Summit in Helsinki warranted impeachment. Addressing the Trump–Putin joint press conference of July 16, he said standing”
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“We have a great tradition and culture of gun ownership and gun safety for hunting, for sport, for self-defense... I think that can allow Texas to take the lead on a really tough issue, which the country is waiting for leadership and action on.”
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A candidate for the presidential nomination in 2020, and the party's nominee for the 2022 Texas gubernatorial election
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Campaign: 2018 U.S. Senate election.
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2017· 12 entries
Published video “The Channel family will rebuild bigger and better than ever”.
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Published video “Speaking on the House Floor on Prospective Border Wall Funding”.
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Published video “Testifying Before the House Rules Committee”.
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Published video “Let's Honor Our Commitment to All Veterans. #LeaveNoVetBehind”.
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Published video “Making It Easier for Veterans to Get an Education”.
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Published video “Let’s work together to strengthen the Antiquities Act. #MonumentsForAll”.
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Published video “In the best interests and traditions of this country.”.
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Published video “What are some ways we can reduce costs while maintaining our robust nuclear deterrent?”.
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Published video “Making suicide reduction and prevention a top priority for the VA.”.
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O'Rourke formally announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat held by incumbent Republican Ted Cruz
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Career landmark: United States representative (2017–2019).
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The congressman, along with Steve Pearce of New Mexico and Eric Swalwell of California, sponsored the American Families United Act, which promoted the idea that US citizens have the right to sponsor their spouses for leg
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2016· 1 entry
O'Rourke voted against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which allows relatives of victims of the September 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for its government's alleged role in the attacks
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2015· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (2015–2017).
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2014· 1 entry
And 2016, O'Rourke declined to seek another term in 2018
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2013· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States representative (2013–2015).
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Career landmark: United States representative (2013–2019).
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2012· 4 entries
O'Rourke filed for the Democratic primary against the eight-term Silvestre Reyes to represent Texas's 16th congressional district
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O'Rourke stated that "in tackling climate change and the greatest environmental threat we have ever faced, we need to take unprecedented action in building a foundation for a clean energy economy"
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After defeating eight-term incumbent Democrat Silvestre Reyes in the primary
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“in tackling climate change and the greatest environmental threat we have ever faced, we need to take unprecedented action in building a foundation for a clean energy economy”
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2011· 1 entry
O'Rourke co-authored a book, Dealing Death and Drugs: The Big Business of Dope in the U
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2009· 1 entry
When O'Rourke was an El Paso city council member he called for "honest, open national debate on ending the prohibition on narcotics"
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2007· 1 entry
Won re-election to a second term, defeating Trini Acevedo, 70–30%
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2006· 1 entry
Relinquished the position, saying, "I said I would take it on condition that someone else would it in a year
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2005· 3 entries
At his first city council meeting, O'Rourke was chosen as mayor pro tem by unanimous vote
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O'Rourke said, "I've been open about it since the very beginning
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Was elected to the El Paso City Council, serving until 2011; he served as mayor pro tempore during his first year in office
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2001· 1 entry
O'Rourke's father, a longtime cycling enthusiast, died while riding his bicycle along the shoulder of Pete Domenici Highway, just outside the city limits of El Paso and across the New Mexico state line, when he was struc
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2000· 1 entry
Co-founded Stanton Street Technology Group, an Internet services and software company
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1995· 3 entries
O'Rourke and his friends jumped over a fence at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) physical plant, and were arrested by the UTEP police
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With a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature
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Studied at Columbia University, Bachelor of Arts (1991–1995).
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1991· 1 entry
While at Columbia University, the trio recruited drummer Cedric Bixler-Zavala (eventual vocalist for At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta), and together they formed the band Foss
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1988· 1 entry
After two years at El Paso High School, he enrolled in Woodberry Forest School, an all-male boarding school in Madison County, Virginia
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1984· 1 entry
In the den of O'Rourke's boyhood home in Kern Place
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1972· 3 entries
At the Hotel Dieu Hospital in El Paso, Texas, to Pat O'Rourke and Melissa Martha O'Rourke
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Born 1972-09-26.
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“s bylaws. 2014 During his bid for re-election in the fall of 2014, O”
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1954· 2 entries
Fully backed by the Eisenhower administration and the Dulles brothers, who had an interest in the United Fruit company, whose fight with the government really precipitated the crisis that led to the coup
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“has not been a very positive one over the last 60 years. You can go back to the coup [in Guatemala] that overthrew Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, fully backed by the Eisenhower administration and the Dulles brothers, who had an interest in the United Fruit company, whose fight with the government really precipitated the crisis that led to the coup.”
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