Texas Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke said that he has no plans to run for president during his town hall meeting hosted by CNN Thursday night.
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When asked if he had any intention of running for president, O’Rourke said, “The answer is no. But my wife is the only one to clap during that. Our children are 11, they’re 10, and 7 years old. We’ve told them we’re going to take these almost-two years out of our life to run this race, and then we’re devoted and committed to being a family again.”
Dana Bash asked, “I asked you to be brief, but I don’t have to be. Is that a definitive no?”
SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 15: U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) debates U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) at the KENS 5 studios on October 16, 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tom Reel-Pool/Getty Images)
“It’s a definitive no,” he added. “Let me put it this way: I promise to you and most importantly to the people of Texas that I’ll serve every single day of a six-year term in the United States Senate and I won’t leave this state to go run for president.”
O’Rourke raised nearly $40 million in the third quarter of 2018, amassing an unprecedented campaign war chest moving forward.
Jesse Kelly, a Houston talk show host and former U.S. Marine, tweeted earlier this week, “Beto is running for president in 2020. I’ve been telling everyone this for months.” (RELATED: Beto 2020? As O’Rourke’s Senate Chances Fade And War Chest Grows, Speculation Swirls He Could Be Eyeing A Bigger Prize)
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