Latest news with #BetoO'Rourke
Politico
a day ago
- Politics
- Politico
Beto O'Rourke calls on Democrats to play hardball on redistricting
"Why the fuck are we responding and reacting to the other side instead of taking offense on these things?" the former Texas gubernatorial candidate said. Beto O'Rourke wants Democrats to play hardball on redistricting. | Tony Gutierrez/AP By Danny Nguyen 07/22/2025 04:07 PM EDT Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas added himself to a shortlist of Democrats pressuring California to carve out extra congressional districts for their party ahead of the midterms. The remarks, made at an event hosted by the left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress on Tuesday, came a day after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started a special session to redistrict his state years earlier than it normally would, which could thwart Democrats' attempt to recapture power in Congress in 2026. It's part of an effort led by President Donald Trump to hold the slim Republican majority, but California Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to redistrict his state in a way that'd offset gains in Texas. 'Not only do I think he should do this, I don't think he should wait for Texas,' said O'Rourke, who is considering running for a Texas Senate seat in 2026. 'Why the fuck are we responding and reacting to the other side instead of taking offense on these things?'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Death toll rises past 100 as flash floods devastate Texas — here's how you can help
Days after devastating flash floods swept through Central Texas, the death toll continued to climb to at least 104, as first responders searched the area for survivors, CNN and The New York Times reported. "As we pray for our fellow Texans who have been impacted by the devastating flooding, please donate to support ongoing recovery and relief efforts," Beto O'Rourke, who formerly represented Texas in Congress, posted on X. For those looking for ways to help, O'Rourke included a link to the Kerr County Relief Fund, which is being operated by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hills Country. The Times also pointed to the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department, a volunteer search and rescue organization called Texsar, an Austin-based pet rescue effort, the World Central Kitchen, and a list of individual GoFundMe pages. In the early morning hours of July 4, heavy rains led the Guadalupe River to rise 20 feet in just one hour in the area around Kerrville, Texas, CBS Reported. The Llano River in Llano County, Texas, also reached catastrophic flooding levels over the weekend, cresting at 26.5 feet, according to CNN. The moderate flood level on the Llano River is 12 feet. The suddenness, magnitude, and middle-of-the-night timing of the flash floods caught many local residents completely by surprise. Controversially, local officials did not call for evacuations before the floods hit, a decision some have questioned in hindsight. "Evacuation is a delicate balance, because if you evacuate too late, then you risk putting buses, or cars, or vehicles or campers on the roads, into low water areas," explained Dalton Rice, Kerrville City Manager, per CNN. "It's very tough to make those calls, because what we also don't want to do is cry wolf," Rice continued. Whether or not evacuations would have made a positive difference, the impact of the flooding has been nothing short of catastrophic with at least 104 confirmed deaths and the toll still climbing, per the Times and CNN, and at least 11 still missing. Do you have a backup power source in your home? Yes — a portable generator Yes — a full-on generator I use solar panels No — I don't Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Among the lives lost were 27 youth campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a nondenominational Christian summer camp for girls that had been in operation for 99 years, per the Guardian. "Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy," read a statement issued by Camp Mystic, according to the Guardian. "We are praying for them constantly." Even days later, torrential rains continued to batter the region, complicating search-and-rescue efforts while threatening further flooding, per CNN. While it is not possible to scientifically connect any single severe weather event to human causes, rising global temperatures have increased the severity of climate disasters. A study by Climate Central found that, of the 144 cities analyzed, 88% experienced an increase in hourly rainfall intensity since 1970, with rainfall rates across those locations having gone up by 15%. Rising global temperatures have been largely responsible for this increase, Climate Central found. For every one degree Fahrenheit of temperature increase, "air can hold 4% more moisture, increasing the chances of heavier downpours that contribute to flash flooding hazards," Climate Central said. To avoid the most catastrophic consequences of global temperature increases, it is necessary to significantly reduce the amount of heat-trapping pollution entering the atmosphere. Even small steps like using public transit or riding a bicycle whenever possible can add up to making a big difference. If you are in a position to do so, installing solar panels and a battery system in your home reduces the amount of planet-warming pollution your family generates while also making your home more resilient in the event of a power outage. Again, as mentioned above, the Kerr County Relief Fund and the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department are great places to donate to offer the best local help in response to this tragedy. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Colin Allred is running again for US Senate in Texas
DALLAS (AP) — Former Texas congressman Colin Allred launched another run for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday after the Democrat's challenge against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz last year broke records for spending but did not deliver his party the breakthrough it has sought for decades in the state. This time, Allred is seeking the seat of Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who is facing a primary challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in what is likely to be one of the GOP's most contentious contests in 2026. Allred's announcement comes just seven months after he lost by nearly 9 percentage points to Cruz. That race was one of the most expensive in the country last cycle, with Democrats spending more than $130 million trying to unseat Cruz. A former NFL linebacker and attorney, Allred is the first high-profile Democrat to declare himself a candidate in the race that Democrats see as their best shot next year at ending a 30-year drought in statewide elections in Texas. Another former Democratic congressman, Beto O'Rourke, who came within 3 percentage points of defeating Cruz in 2018, also hasn't ruled out a run. In a video announcing his candidacy, Allred took aim at both Cornyn and Paxton and cast himself as a fighter for those struggling to get ahead. "I get it. Real change might feel impossible," Allred said. 'But I'm not giving up.' 'Texans have already rejected your liberal values once,' Paxton said Tuesday in response to the announcement. 'Now it's time for Texas voters to say no to your vision and values once more.' Allred tried to position himself as a moderate in last year's race and made protecting abortion rights a centerpiece of his campaign. His supporters included Texas women who had serious pregnancy complications after the state's abortion ban took effect. But his campaign drew criticism early on from some Democrats who grew restless with Allred's strategy of not packing his schedule with raucous rallies or investing more in smaller corners of Texas, including cities along the border with Mexico. In the end, Texas Democrats' streak of losses in statewide races continued while Republicans kept making gains along the predominately Hispanic border with Mexico, which had long been a Democratic stronghold. Allred played four seasons in the NFL, all with the Tennessee Titans, after being undrafted out of Baylor University. He entered Congress after flipping a Republican district in Dallas in 2018. Former astronaut Terry Virts also entered the U.S. Senate race as a Democratic candidate. Looming over the GOP primary between Cornyn and Paxton is whether and when President Donald Trump will make an endorsement. In April, Trump praised both candidates and said he would make a decision later.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Democrat Colin Allred launches 2026 U.S. Senate campaign
Democrat Colin Allred launched his campaign for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, making a second run at the upper chamber after failing to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz last year. 'Texans are working harder than ever, not getting as much time with their kids, missing those special moments, all to be able to afford less,' Allred, a former Dallas congressman who gave up his seat to run against Cruz, said in his announcement video. 'And the people that we elected to help — politicians like John Cornyn and Ken Paxton — are too corrupt to care about us and too weak to fight for us.' Allred is the first major Democrat to announce his candidacy for the seat currently held by Cornyn, but several others have indicated their interest, including Beto O'Rourke, a former El Paso congressman and statewide campaign veteran; U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a longtime San Antonio legislator; and state Rep. James Talarico, a four-term lawmaker from Austin who is seen as a rising star in the party. Former astronaut Terry Virts and former flight attendant Mike Swanson are already running in the Democratic primary. Driving Democratic hopes of winning statewide for the first time since 1994 is the potential to run against the embattled hardline Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging Cornyn for the Republican nomination. Texas Democrats also hope 2026, a midterm election year, will bring a wave of backlash to the Trump administration that can help surge a Democrat to statewide office. Whether other major Democrats will challenge Allred for the nomination remains to be seen. More than a dozen statewide offices will appear on next year's ballot, including governor, lieutenant governor and the attorney general seat being vacated by Paxton. Democrats hope to present a full slate of viable candidates who can mobilize voters, fundraise and blanket the state next year — a task likely made easier without a contested and expensive Senate primary. Allred, a civil rights attorney and former NFL linebacker who was endorsed for Senate last year by Republican then-U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, enters the race with relatively high name ID, vast fundraising capabilities and, according to polls, a higher favorability rating than some other potential candidates surveyed. In his 2026 campaign announcement, Allred highlighted his upbringing by a single mother on a teacher's salary in Dallas, his efforts to crack an NFL roster after going undrafted, his bipartisan record in Congress and his work to open new medical facilities for veterans in Texas. And he sought to draw a contrast with Republicans, including his potential competitors. 'In six years in Congress, I never took a dime of corporate PAC money, never traded a single stock. Never had a hint of scandal,' Allred said in his announcement video, adding that the first of a series of policy plans his campaign would roll out would be an 'anti-corruption' plan. 'Because at heart I'm still that undrafted kid, fighting for what's right.' A May poll by Texas Southern University found that 45% of voters had a favorable opinion of Allred, the highest proportion of six potential Senate candidates surveyed. A matchup between Allred and Paxton showed the Republican attorney general winning by just two percentage points. (The same poll found Paxton leading Cornyn by nine points.) Allred's campaign against Cruz last year — in which he pitched himself as a more effective and bipartisan alternative to the conservative firebrand — was criticized by some Democrats for its buttoned-up approach, a sharp contrast to the electrifying style O'Rourke brought in 2018, when he came within 3 points of toppling Cruz. Allred lost by 8.5 points, a wider margin than polls had shown going into Election Day, and despite having outraised Cruz throughout his campaign. Still, he outpaced then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the state to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump by nearly 14 percentage points. In a June interview on the Dallas-based Lone Star Politics show, Allred said he would run 'differently' this time around, now that he's out of Congress. Allred first entered politics in 2018, when he flipped a Dallas-area congressional seat to oust longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions. Before that, he served in President Barack Obama's Department of Housing and Urban Development. Disclosure: Texas Southern University - Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer. Get tickets. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Fox News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
New study suggests ChatGPT weakens critical thinking
All times eastern Fox Report with Jon Scott Fox Report with Jon Scott FOX News Radio Live Channel Coverage WATCH LIVE: Failed senate candidate Beto O'Rourke joins Senator Bernie Sanders on the 'Fighting Oligarchy' Tour
