Texas Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar (D) says she would welcome a 2020 presidential bid from Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D), who last week lost his midterm Senate race against Sen. Ted Cruz
Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzMcSally, staff asked to break up maskless photo op inside Capitol Capitol's COVID-19 spike could be bad Thanksgiving preview Republican senators urge Trump to label West Bank goods as 'Made in Israel' MORE (R).
“He should run — I would love to see that happen,” Escobar told Hill.TV correspondent Molly Hooper during an interview that aired on Wednesday.
The former El Paso County judge went on to praise O’Rourke’s leadership, saying she has “a lot of love” for the congressman’s vision of unity and dignity for the country as a whole.
O’Rourke ran a closer-than-expected campaign against Cruz, losing last week by only 2.5 points.
But Escobar hopes the El Paso lawmaker's loss won’t dim his political ambitions in the future.
“I love that he cares about each and every person — that’s what government is about, and I think he’s an exemplary public servant and I don’t want us to lose him,” she said.
O’Rourke gained national attention in his red-state bid, during which he raised a staggering $70 million.
Speculation has grown on whether O'Rourke might take on President Trump
Donald John TrumpBen Carson says he's 'out of the woods' after being 'extremely sick' with COVID-19 Biden will receive @POTUS Twitter account on Jan. 20 even if Trump doesn't concede, company says Trump to participate in virtual G-20 summit amid coronavirus surge MORE in 2020 bid, though he's repeatedly said he's not interested. According to a Politico/Morning Consult poll, O’Rourke is among the top three possible Democratic 2020 contenders, following Former Vice President Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersSirota says possible Biden pick could raise prospect of Social Security cuts Young conservatives won't back down from the climate conversation under Biden Democrats must turn around MORE (I-Vt.)
Despite O’Rourke’s loss, last week’s midterm elections were still a historic night for the Lone Star State.
Escobar is poised to take over O’Rourke’s seat in Texas’s 16th District in January, becoming one of the first two Latinas from Texas elected to Congress.
— Tess Bonn
