Even though Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) lost his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, many of his backers are already calling on him to run against President Trump in 2020.
Thousands of his supporters, including a handful of celebrities, have taken to Twitter using a “Beto2020” hashtag, despite O’Rourke responding earlier this year with a “definitive no” when asked if he sees himself one day running for president.
Actress Olivia Wilde, who is also the daughter of failed Democratic Virginia congressional candidate Leslie Cockburn, wrote on Twitter late Tuesday: “Beto 2020. Let’s do this.”
“Beto lost? That’s ok. Now he can run for President,” actress Alyssa Milano said in one tweet on Tuesday night, writing “Beto2020” in another.
Comedian and actor Ike Barinholtz wrote on Twitter: “Ah shit Beto didn’t make it to the Senate. Oh well at least he’ll be president soon.”
Actress Busy Philipps also took to Twitter to express her hopes of the Democrat running for office in two years and the possibility of defeated Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (D) running on the ticket, writing: “Beto/Gillum 2020.”
{mosads}Political analysts like Seth Abramson, who is a CNN and BBC contributor, also began contemplating an O’Rourke challenge to Trump in the next presidential election, given his performance in Texas.
“What Beto O’Rourke did in Texas was absolutely amazing and—while I’m certainly not announcing support for any candidate—I do believe, fervently, Beto should run for President of the United States in 2020,” Abramson wrote. “100% serious. If he can get 48% in Texas, anything is possible nationally.”
O’Rourke won 48 percent of the vote in the Texas Senate election, compared to Cruz’s 51 percent.