Who is Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke?
No Democrat had won statewide office in
His newfound celebrity -- and record donations -- got him star-studded endorsements from the likes of
But he lost. He told the
But the public pressed and
And in March, he semi-announced in a Vanity Fair cover story.
"I want to be in it. Man, I'm just born to be in it," he said.
The day he decided to run, his campaign raised more than
The youthful, 46-year-old from the border town of
Undocumented immigration is an "opportunity" for the country to rewrite its laws in accordance "with our values," he said in an interview with the New York Times. With unique credibility as a voice from the border, he has pitched a system with the Mexican government that would track who was in the country.
About
-- Current or most recent position: O'Rourke represented
-- Other elected offices: In 2005, O'Rourke served on the
-- Occupation: After he graduated college, O'Rourke worked as a live-in caretaker and art mover before working for an Internet service provider run by his uncle. He later worked as a proofreader and wrote short stories and songs. When O'Rourke returned to
-- Education: O'Rourke received his bachelor's degree in English literature from
-- Age: 46
-- Residence:
-- Family: O'Rourke is married to teacher
-- Campaign website: betoorourke.com
-- Small donors: O'Rourke's more than 14,000 small donors start at
-- Big donors: As of March, top donors included
-- Fun fact: In his 20s, O'Rourke was in a punk band called "Foss," which is Icelandic for "waterfall."
-- On the issues: O'Rourke has taken official positions on climate change, immigration, LGBTQ issues, voting rights, reproductive rights and small businesses.
Noteworthy pitches include goals to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, ensure full protections of the LGBTQ community through legislative action, expanded insurance coverage for women's health services and a crack down on voter ID laws.
Sources of biographical information: The Beto O'Rourke Campaign, The New York Times
___
(c)2019 Miami Herald
Visit Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. Enters Into Agreement with American Financial Group, Inc.; Continues Strategic Evaluation
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News