Beto O'Rourke 'very likely' to back Democrat over GOP friend Rep. Will Hurd

[brooklynite]

Roll Call

Democratic presidential candidate and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke will “very likely” support the eventual Democratic nominee challenging one of his best friends in Congress, GOP Rep. Will Hurd. It’s a reversal from O’Rourke’s vow of neutrality in the 2018 midterm elections.

Gina Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer who raised more than $6 million in her failed bid to unseat Hurd in 2018, recently announced she is jumping into the race to challenge Hurd again in 2020. O’Rourke indicated Wednesday that he does not plan to repeat his neutrality vow and, instead, “will be supporting” Ortiz Jones if she emerges victorious from the Democratic primaries.

Hurd, who represents Texas 23rd District along the U.S.-Mexico border, defeated the Democrat by less than 1 percentage point in 2018.

O’Rourke and Hurd thrust their friendship into the public spotlight in March 2017, when they live-streamed a “bipartisan road trip” from San Antonio, Texas, to Washington, D.C., after a historic snowstorm on the East Coast caused mass flight cancellations into the capital.

[TexasTowelie]

1. I'll forgive Beto.

When you have to travel through Hurd's congressional district to get to the remaining 253 counties in Texas in the Senate campaign, it isn't a good idea to appear as backstabber to someone who is both a current colleague and someone who might be able to persuade some less ethical county officials to harass you.

There are differences in how to perform in state politics as opposed to national politics. Beto is wise enough to know the difference and has solidified his positions behind the national Democratic platform shrewdly.

[crazytown]

2. Another bash Beto post

“you better hold on - something's happening here” , Lou Reed

[Rstrstx]

3. Hurd still has something of a spine but he and O'Rourke are drifting farther apart politically

I do give Hurd credit for backing the Dream Act that just passed the House and he has raised a red flag against Barr's intelligence purge and (still) calls Trump out. But still, at the end of the day a Democrat would be better suited for the 23rd, Hurd could better represent a more conservative district around San Antonio.

I believe O'Rourke handily won the 23rd in 2018 (Clinton won it by 2 or 3 points in 2016), his endorsement could have an impact in the same race that was very close last time. A late tally from small but hard-right Medina County pushed Hurd over the top by less than 1000 votes last year.

If getting Trump out is priority 1, holding the House is priority 0.5. This is a winnable seat for Dems.

[TeamPooka]

4. Good. Supporting Democrats is good. a poster here would not be allowed to support Hurd either.