Beto Outlines A Path Forward
At a town hall, O’Rourke focused on organizing now and in the immediate future. Because democracy and America are at stake.
On Monday, the Garland Convention Center was packed with Texans of all ages and backgrounds. They were gathered for a familiar sight, at least to those who have followed Texas politics closely the last few years.
Beto O’Rourke, the former senate and gubernatorial candidate, was holding a public town hall in Dallas County. The occasion had nothing to do with him seeking a public office (though more on that later), but a broad discussion about the future of Texas and America.
O’Rourke was introduced by Dr. Freddy Haynes, the Pastor of Friendship West in Dallas. Haynes spoke prolifically about the power of individuals throughout history like John Lewis, Rosa Parks, and Cesar Chavez to impact change.
When O’Rourke took to the mic, he thanked the crowd for showing up on a Monday evening. He also said that he welcomed everybody in the crowd, from Trump voters to Harris voters to even non-voters. He also acknowledged the difficulty of voting in a state like Texas, which still does not have online voter registration and has taken to closing polling locations in neighborhoods that mostly serve young or minority Texans.
The full remarks and answers from O'Rourke's Garland Town Hall
In his remarks, O’Rourke focused on organizing now and in the immediate future. The midterms next year are important, but getting on the ground now is critical. O’Rourke also noted that by 2032, Texas would likely leap to having 44 electoral votes in the presidential election. And that’s in contrast to many of the so-called “battleground states” like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or Michigan – which will likely be losing population.
O’Rourke also said that he often gets asked about what the message should be of the Democratic party. He followed-up by saying that is not only a false choice, but the wrong question. “Are you going to surrender or are you going to fight?” is what he asked the audience.
After his remarks, O’Rourke took several questions from the audience. Many of the questions were from young Texans asking about what they can do. O’Rourke talked about the organization created in the wake of his run, Powered by People, as one example of a group that young Texans can volunteer with. He also pointed to the Democratic clubs that have emerged across the state, as well as activist and labor groups organizing rallies, protests, and voter drives.
One of the youngest attendees asked O’Rourke if he was going to run for office again, specifically against Governor Abbott next year. O’Rourke laughed and said he did like running, but did not definitively say whether he would be a candidate. He told the crowd that his choice would be to find whatever role was most useful for Texas.
