Beto O'Rourke, the Democrat officially began his presidential campaign. He joins others including Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar to be the Democratic presidential candidate.
He seized national attention last fall with an unexpectedly strong Senate campaign in conservative Texas, formally launched his presidential candidacy Saturday in his hometown of El Paso, vowing to bring a unifying dynamic, progressive values and generational change to American politics.
"This is our moment of truth, and we cannot be found wanting," he told an enthusiastic crowd of at least 1,000.
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O'Rourke talked about topics like immigration, education, marijuana legalization and more.
Speaking from a spot only blocks from the border with Mexico, he underscored some of his most vigorous differences with the man he hopes to succeed in the White House — Donald Trump — without ever naming the US president.
O'Rourke described America as "a country of immigrants and asylum seekers and refugees (who) are the very premise of our strength, of our success and, yes, our security." In an implicit rebuke to Trump, O'Rourke said that his hometown was safer because of its immigrants, not more dangerous.
He specifically talked about a temporary home by Customs and Border Protection underneath one of the international bridges, where many migrants, including children, are being held behind chain-link and razor wire. If elected, he said he would pursue comprehensive immigration reform, reunite immigrant families separated at the border and "bring millions more (undocumented immigrants) out of the shadows."
The 46-year-old listed also talked of "high-quality universal healthcare"; and seizing the nation's "last best hope of averting a (climate) catastrophe." O'Rourke added that his opponent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, was "working for the clampdown," and not the “people of Texas.” He also called for a new voting rights act stating that “Every single citizen must be able to vote, and every vote must count." Because, the success of the country “depended on democracy.” He also talked about wanting to change laws regarding marijuana, legalizing the drug and “expunge record of those arrested solely for possession.”
O'Rourke pointed out that he helped boost voter turnout in Texas — particularly among the young — to some of its highest levels in years.
Towards end of his speech to El Pasoans, O'Rourke switched to Spanish and said that everyone should have the right to success no matter what race they belogn to, their income or how long their family has been in the United States. To this an enthusiastic crown broke into chants of “Si se puede, si se puede!” a famous rallying cry for Mexican-American farmworkers and the United Farm Workers labour group.
He had made his intention to run for the presidency known in mid-March, and in a single day raked in a huge $6.1 million in donations, giving himself instant relevance in the crowded Democratic field.
He since has been campaigning -- usually before large crowds -- in early-voting states including Iowa and New Hampshire.
O'Rourke headed from his hometown El Paso to kickoff rallies in Houston and Austin, the state capital.
The 46-year-old former congressman and onetime punk rocker was born Robert O'Rourke but widely known as "Beto." His nearly successful campaign in November against incumbent Senator Ted Cruz brought him national attention.
O'Rourke is an unorthodox candidate, with a comparatively thin political resume and with a seeming allergy to being labeled a liberal. During his six years in Congress, O'Rourke was more politically cautious, joining the House's centrist coalition.
On his first major campaign tour, which took him to eight states including New Hampshire, South Carolina and Ohio, he met people in coffee shops, school gyms and taquerias, offering a unifying vision packed with optimism but short on policy specifics.
