Beto served three terms in Congress. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2018 losing to Ted Cruz.
Beto O’Rourke has announced his presidential campaign today March 13th 2019. Saying “Man, I’m just born to be in it, and want to do everything I humanly can for this country at this moment.”
Beto is a natural political communicator. He is charismatic and inspirational. Does this qualify him to be president? We will find out in the debates if he has the grasp of the issues. After his announcing his run for president, Beto has raised money from all 50 states.
Beto O'Rourke Policies and Platform:
He wants to legalize marijuana.
Rejoin the Paris Climate Accords
Support a path to citizenship for immigrant children
Ensuring healthcare to all Americans: He wants protect the ACA and expand Medicaid. Does not support Medicare for All. He supports “creating a public option” and “achieving universal healthcare coverage.”
Women’s health
Education: Banning public dollars from going to private education, increasing school funding for impoverished communities. Increase aid to public schools in low-income communities
End the militarization of our immigration enforcement system, and close private immigration prisons and detention centers that locking up families
Crime: Eliminating private, for-profit prisons; bringing an end to mandatory sentencing; and ending cash bail
Is Beto O'Rourke the next Obama? Younger voters are flocking to him. Older voters not so much, right now. Reps. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and Veronica Escobar, D-Texas have already endorse O’Rourke. We will know where Beto stands on the issues after the first debate, that will be held in July. The field will be divided in half and will be broadcast over two nights.
“Ultimately, we all have to get on board with the same person, because it is fundamental to our chances of success that we defeat Donald Trump in 2020,” he said shortly after announcing his candidacy online.
Beto is in Iowa for the next three days campaigning. Will he draw the same crowds as he did in Texas?
Campaign Stops:
Thursday, March 14
- Fort Madison: 11 a..m., meet and greet at the Sub Arena, 2805 Avenue L
- Burlington: 12:45 p.m., meet and greet at the Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery, 212 Jefferson St.
- Muscatine: 7:45 p.m., meet and greet, 402 E. Eighth St.
Friday, March 15
- Mount Pleasant: 9:45 a.m., meet and greet at Central Park Coffee, 120 N. Main St.
- Cedar Rapids: 6:30 p.m., Political Party Live podcast at Raygun, 1028 Third St. SE
Saturday, March 16
- North Liberty: 10:15 a.m., St. Patrick's Day 5k Run starting and ending at University of Iowa Community Credit Union, 2355 Landon Rd.
- Waterloo: 12:30 p.m., canvass kickoff for Eric Giddens campaign in Senate District 30 special election at the Black Hawk County Democratic Party headquarters, 307 E. Fourth St.
- Dubuque: 8 p.m., Saint Patrick's Day meet and greet, 410 Shrewsbury La
It’s going to be an exciting primary. Who is your candidate of choice right now?