O'Rourke says he's not planning on run for Texas governor

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) said Friday he will not run for governor in 2022 after previously saying he was mulling a challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

"I've got no plans to run, and I'm very focused on the things that I'm lucky enough to do right now - organizing, registering voters and teaching," O'Rourke told The Dallas Morning News in an interview for an upcoming episode of its "Lone Star Politics" podcast. "I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing now."

The statement comes after O'Rourke, who gained national fame when he nearly bested Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in the 2018 midterms, said in January he was considering another shot at statewide office.

"It's something I'm going to think about," O'Rourke said at the time when asked about a challenge to Abbott.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/o-rourke-says-he-s-not-planning-on-run-for-texas-governor/ar-BB1ffrSQ?li=BB141NW3&ocid=DELLDHP

[JI7]

1. Doesn't sound like a final decision. When does he have to decide if he does

want to run ?

[Lonestarblue]

2. I will be so disappointed if Beto does not challenge Abbott.

He may be the only person who has a chance of beating the disgusting Abbott.

[area51]

3. +1 n/t

[JI7]

4. Maybe he wants to run for Senate again.

[onetexan]

8. +1 -K&R

[dalton99a]

5. "Nothing's changed and nothing I said would preclude me from considering a run in the future"

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/02/beto-orourke-texas-governor-abbott/
After saying he has “no plans” to run for governor, Beto O’Rourke quick to clarify he might
“Nothing’s changed and nothing I said would preclude me from considering a run in the future,” he told the Tribune.
by Abby Livingston April 2, 2021

Earlier Friday, The Dallas Morning News published remarks O'Rourke made on an upcoming morning program that roused the Texas political class and suggested he no longer was interested in running for governor.

“I’ve got no plans to run, and I’m very focused on the things that I’m lucky enough to do right now — organizing, registering voters and teaching,” O’Rourke said on NBC DFW’s “Lone Star Politics,” which will air Sunday. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing now.”

The O'Rourke camp then quickly reached out to The Texas Tribune to clarify his sentiment.

"What I said today is what I've been saying for months: I'm not currently considering a run for office," he said in a statement. "I'm focused on what I'm doing now (teaching and organizing.) Nothing's changed and nothing I said would preclude me from considering a run in the future."

[LeftInTX]

6. Doesn't sound very encouraging. Candidates need to get in line now.

Beto was already running for Senate in early 2017.

"Run in the future"...sounds like years from now....sigh........

[JI7]

12. Sounds like he wants attention on imporant issues and doesn't

want to turn everything into campaign bs which is what Republicans and their media enablers will do.

[Jetheels]

7. Somethings rotten in Texas,

when a Ted Cruz wins over a Beto O’Rourke.
Just looking at these two, side to side, and that’s who they chose?

[peppertree]

10. 'Landslide' Ted

Like Landslide Lyndon - if you took out everything redeeming.

[catrose]

11. I know. I so wanted a recount. Ted is a Cambridge Analytica client.

If only Gaetz would pull down Ted too.

[ananda]

13. Yes, Texas is rotten to the core.

The gerrymandering, the voter suppression, the
ugly hate laws, and more.

[peppertree]

9. What would be the point: they'd just cheat him again

It is the Repug way.

[LudwigPastorius]

14. The sad, but true, fact is that Beto's support for amandatory buy back of some guns...

("Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47" ) makes winning the Texas governorship all but impossible.

[summer_in_TX]

17. Exactly.

Even many Dems did not like how he handled that. It didn't sound reasonable or like due process would be afforded.

Many Dems have weapons, there's lots of hunting in the state. I don't think many lean towards AR-15s or AK-47s.

Had he proposed voluntary relinquishment or a buy-back program, that would have been fine. The language he used in the heat of strong emotions sounded like government confiscation.

I'm not sure he has a direct path to a state-wide or federal seat at this point. It's a shame.

[BlueWavePsych]

15. Maybe he changes his mind.

Worth a shot

[Oldem]

16. Let's all pull for O'Rourke in TX and Abrams in GA. And let's hope

their coattails are long enough to drag some dems into their legislatures.

[NNadir]

18. I do think he needs a prominent place in the future. He's a valuable man. n/t.