Can James Talarico Do Better than Beto?
With his scandalized general election opponent now set, the newest Texas Democrat phenom begins his barnstorming of the state.
Beto O'Rourke
Strangest State: May 2019
Weird news from far-flung Texas.
The Power Politics Behind the House’s Bipartisan, Kumbaya, Feel-Good Session
House Speaker Dennis Bonnen altered his party’s near-term agenda in service of the GOP’s long-term political project: Power. Will it work?
Why is Beto Running for President, Exactly?
In the national spotlight, O’Rourke’s ideological amorphousness could prove to be too great a liability. Or it could be his biggest strength.
Winning Isn’t Enough. The Next President Needs to be a Doer.
We think what it takes to shake up Washington is an outsider with new ideas, but what’s needed is an insider with strong convictions.
The Texas Observer’s Best Features of 2018
Our favorite longreads of the year.
How Beto Built His Texas-Sized Grassroots Machine
To pull off the largest GOTV effort in state history, O’Rourke turned to the top architects of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.
Dear Beto and Julián, Please Don’t Run for President
Most failed presidential campaigns are high-risk bids for personal glory and a waste of time and money.
The GOP Machine in Texas Seems to Finally Have Slipped a Gear
Over the last few years, something has been stirring in Texas. The midterm elections may signal a seismic shift in state politics.
Ted Cruz Won Because of Rural Texas, but Beto Made Small Gains for Democrats
O’Rourke’s strategy of hitting all 254 counties didn’t win him the race, but it likely gained Democratic ground in small-town Texas, Republicans’ most reliable stronghold.