Beto O'Rourke is an American politician who had a notable career in the United States House of Representatives, serving Texas's 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. His political journey took an exciting turn when he ran for the United States Senate in 2018. Notably, he also sought the 2020 Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Born into a local political family in El Paso, Texas, O'Rourke's roots in politics were evident from an early age. He graduated from Woodberry Forest School and later attended Columbia University, where he discovered a passion for music. During his college days, O'Rourke briefly pursued a music career as the bass guitarist for the post-hardcore band Foss.
After completing his education, O'Rourke returned to his hometown of El Paso and embarked on a business career. His political ambitions, however, soon took center stage. In 2005, he was elected to the El Paso City Council, a position he held until 2011. Two years later, O'Rourke was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, marking the beginning of a successful congressional career.
O'Rourke went on to win re-election in 2014 and 2016, but ultimately declined to seek re-election in 2018. Despite his defeat, he made history by securing the most votes ever cast for a Democrat in Texas history. O'Rourke's political aspirations didn't end there. On March 14, 2019, he announced his candidacy for President of the United States in the 2020 United States presidential election.
