Sen. John CornynJohn CornynO’Rourke to announce White House run Thursday morning: report Senate GOP expected to force vote on Green New Deal in March Texas Dems warn of ‘land grab’ if Trump’s emergency order survives MORE (R-Texas) said Tuesday that his home state is no longer “reliably red” and on the verge of becoming a swing state.
“Texas is no longer, I believe, a reliably red state,” Cornyn said on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show. “We are on the precipice of turning purple, and we’ve got a lot of work to do to keep it red, because we lost, we got blown out in the urban areas. We got beat in the suburbs, which used to be our traditional strongholds.”
Cornyn added that Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzO’Rourke to announce White House run Thursday morning: report O’Rourke strongly signals he’s entering Dem primary in Vanity Fair interview Texas Dems warn of ‘land grab’ if Trump’s emergency order survives MORE (R-Texas) might not have been victorious over his Democratic challenger, Rep. Beto O’Rourke, during this month’s midterm elections without support in rural areas.
Hewitt noted that while Cornyn is up for reelection in 2020, he probably won’t face a Senate challenge from O’Rourke.
The El Paso representative signaled on Monday that he hasn’t ruled out a 2020 presidential run.
Cornyn said O’Rourke lost in the Lone Star State because he is a “national Democrat.”
“Texas is still a conservative state. And even though it is trending more purple than red, and that’s something we have to pay attention to, and I intend to in 2020, but I think Beto’s got stars in his eyes, and he’s going to go for the big one,” Cornyn said.
O’Rourke lost to Cruz in a surprisingly close race earlier this month but his defeat sparked widespread calls among Democrats for him to challenge President TrumpDonald John TrumpGary Cohn says Trump trade adviser the only economist in world who believes in tariffs House transportation committee chairman threatens to subpoena Boeing, FAA communication Pentagon sets new limits on transgender service members MORE.
The progressive star has earned the praise of former President Obama, who called O’Rourke an “impressive young man.”
If O’Rourke decides to enter the ring of 2020 Democratic contenders, he could face off in a primary challenge against possible candidates like former Vice President Joe BidenJoseph (Joe) Robinette BidenO’Rourke strongly signals he’s entering Dem primary in Vanity Fair interview Pollster says Dem primary candidates need to portray themselves as vehicles for change Pollster sees ‘potential upside’ for Harris in 2020 polling MORE and Sens. Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersSenate breaks with Trump on Saudi-led war in Yemen O’Rourke strongly signals he’s entering Dem primary in Vanity Fair interview Pollster says Dem primary candidates need to portray themselves as vehicles for change MORE (I-Vt.), Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth Ann WarrenO’Rourke strongly signals he’s entering Dem primary in Vanity Fair interview Panel urges UK to establish competition regulator for tech companies Pollster sees ‘potential upside’ for Harris in 2020 polling MORE (D-Mass.), Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisO’Rourke strongly signals he’s entering Dem primary in Vanity Fair interview Pollster sees ‘potential upside’ for Harris in 2020 polling Female candidates scrutinized more than men on likability, says pollster MORE (D-Calif.) and Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerO’Rourke strongly signals he’s entering Dem primary in Vanity Fair interview New Jersey Dems tell Pentagon not to use military funds for border wall Conservatives accuse Warren of hypocrisy over comment on school admission scandal MORE (D-N.J.).