Beto O’Rourke And Julián Castro 2020 Presidential Bids Are Looking Likely

If the two Texans decide to run, they will likely be part of a crowded field of Democratic candidates. In state politics, 59 votes determined the winner of a special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by Sylvia Garcia.

By Rhonda Fanning & Laura RiceDecember 14, 2018 1:45 pm,

Time for the week that was in Texas Politics with Vanessa Bouché, associate professor of political science at Texas Christian University.   

Bouché says Julián Castro is inching closer to announcing he’ll run for president in 2020, at least according to his brother Joaquin during his recent appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Stephen Colbert. Joaquin said that he was sure his brother was running, and Bouché says Julián is already putting together an exploratory committee to see if he would be a contender.

“His brother appeared on Stephen Colbert’s show, and … Joaquin actually announced for him that he is indeed going to run,” Bouché says.

It’s also looking likely that another Texas Democrat will run. Bouché says former Congressman and Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke has been talking to some of former-President Barack Obama’s operatives recently, which might indicate first steps toward a presidential bid. While O’Rourke said during his Senate campaign that he had no intentions of running for president in 2020, he gained a huge following in Texas and across the country, and now it looks like he may reconsider.

“He’s had donors from all 50 states, and he generated a lot of energy among young voters, unlikely voters, minority voters,” Bouché says.

Bouché says despite the buzz about O’Rourke, there’s other potential Democratic candidates outside of Texas, too.

“For the Democratic nomination, first of all, it’s going to be a very crowded playing field,” Bouché says. “[And] there may be some frustration among some members of the Democratic Party that Beto has gotten so much attention.”

Meanwhile, as newly elected U.S. House Rep. Sylvia Garcia heads to Washington, a special election was held to replace her in the Texas Senate. Houston Democrat Carol Alvarado will be taking her spot after winning by just 59 votes.

Written by Acacia Coronado.