Beto O'Rourke Hasn't Endorsed in Texas Democratic Senate Primary

Beto O'Rourke confirmed he hasn't endorsed a candidate in the Texas Democratic Senate primary between James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett. The clarification came during an interview with the Houston Chronicle's Texas Take podcast, where O'Rourke framed his current neutrality as respect for democratic process rather than personal preference.

"No, no. Look, we're the party that says it believes in democracy and self-government and the ability for people to freely and fairly choose who will represent them," O'Rourke said. "I believe in that. And I believe in the Democratic voters of the state of Texas who are going to have a real close and personal look at these two phenomenal candidates that we have in James and Jasmine, and they're going to make the best decision."

O'Rourke positioned his lack of endorsement as deference to voter autonomy. He emphasized the importance of allowing Texans to evaluate both candidates without interference from party figures. The rhetoric sounds principled until you remember this same party regularly deploys endorsements from national figures, former presidents, and influential donors to shape primary outcomes before voters cast ballots.

Both Talarico and Crockett bring substantive credentials to the race. Talarico serves in the Texas House representing District 50, focusing on education policy and legislation addressing prescription drug costs. Crockett represents Texas's 30th Congressional District in the U.S. House, where she's built a national profile through her work on voting rights and criminal justice reform. O'Rourke called them both phenomenal without elaborating on what makes either candidate exceptional beyond their participation.

His comments pivoted quickly from democratic process to existential stakes. O'Rourke suggested Texas Democrats will evaluate both values alignment and electability when choosing between the candidates. He expects voters to consider which candidate can win in November because the consequences extend beyond typical electoral disappointment.

"Not only those who conform to their values, not only based on the track record, but I think they're also going to take into account who they think is going to be able to win in November because, at least in my mind, this election is for all the marbles," O'Rourke explained. "If Democrats lose, then the consolidation of power in the hands of the President will be unstoppable. This slide to authoritarianism, I think, will reach its natural conclusion. We will live in a fascist country."

O'Rourke's endorsement is important. When the guy who dragged Democratic turnout to historic levels in 2018 and still commands donor networks across the state decides to sit this out, that's a choice. His name moves money and volunteers. Democrats looking for guidance from their most visible figure aren't getting it, and some see that silence as a betrayal when the primary needs clarity.

So he trusts Texas Democrats to pick the right candidate, but also thinks one wrong move ends democracy. He believes voters have good judgment while warning them the republic depends on not screwing this up. That's a contradiction.

O'Rourke's reluctance to endorse could be a genuine democratic values. It could also be a political calculation about remaining viable in a state where his electoral record includes a narrow 2018 Senate loss to Ted Cruz and a decisive 2022 gubernatorial defeat to Greg Abbott. He also withdrew from the 2020 Democratic presidential primary before voting began. Staying neutral preserves relationships with both campaigns and avoids alienating supporters of either candidate in future political endeavors.

But it also confuses the fan base.

The man who screamed "Hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15" on a debate stage now won't even whisper a preference between two Democrats. If Texas Democrats' loudest cheerleader thinks democracy hangs in the balance but can't pick which candidate should save it, maybe he already knows how this ends.

@Santitos

@salinasmariasantos

Copyright © 2026 Maria Santos Salinas for FRONTeras.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Sharing the original posts or links from FRONTeras on social media is allowed and appreciated.