Differences between Beto O'Rourke and Ted Cruz
Contents
Comparison Article[edit]
Beto O'Rourke and Ted Cruz are two prominent figures in Texas politics who hold contrasting viewpoints on a number of key issues. O'Rourke, a Democrat, and Cruz, a Republican, have frequently found themselves on opposite sides of debates concerning healthcare, immigration, and gun control. Their differing political ideologies were notably highlighted during the 2018 Texas Senate race, which was the closest in the state since 1978.[1]
Comparison Table[edit]
| Category | Beto O'Rourke | Ted Cruz |
|---|---|---|
| Political Party | Democratic | Republican |
| Healthcare | Supports the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding Medicaid, and has proposed a plan for universal health care.[2] | Opposes the ACA and has led efforts to repeal it.[3] |
| Immigration | Supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including "Dreamers".[4] | Advocates for stricter border security, including the construction of a border wall, and stronger enforcement of immigration laws.[4] |
| Gun Control | Open to banning bump stocks and high-capacity magazines.[5] | Opposes most gun restrictions and supports arming teachers to enhance school security.[3] |
| Abortion | Supports abortion rights and opposes defunding Planned Parenthood.[5] | Opposes abortion and supports defunding organizations that provide abortion services.[5] |
| Climate Change | Acknowledges man-made climate change as a fact.[2] | Opposes the scientific consensus on climate change. |
| Campaign Finance | Rejects donations from political action committees (PACs).[4] | Accepts donations from PACs. |
| Supreme Court Nominations | Opposed the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.[5] | Supported the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.[5] |
Political Careers[edit]
Robert "Beto" O'Rourke's political career includes serving on the El Paso City Council from 2005 to 2011. He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas's 16th congressional district from 2013 to 2019. In 2018, O'Rourke ran for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Ted Cruz, a race he narrowly lost. Following his Senate campaign, he briefly ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and later for Governor of Texas in 2022, losing to incumbent Greg Abbott.
Ted Cruz's career in politics began after he graduated from Harvard Law School and held positions in the George W. Bush administration. He served as the Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to 2008. In 2012, Cruz was elected to the U.S. Senate and has served since 2013. He was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, ultimately finishing second to Donald Trump.
2018 Senate Election[edit]
The 2018 U.S. Senate election in Texas between O'Rourke and Cruz gained national attention due to its competitiveness in a traditionally Republican state.[1] Throughout the campaign, polls showed a fluctuating and often narrow gap between the two candidates. O'Rourke's campaign was noted for its significant fundraising and high voter turnout efforts, with O'Rourke visiting every county in Texas.[4] Ultimately, Cruz won the election by a margin of just under 215,000 votes, or 2.6 percent.[1] This was the closest U.S. Senate race in Texas in four decades.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved February 07, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "tpr.org". Retrieved February 07, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "houstonchronicle.com". Retrieved February 07, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "brookings.edu". Retrieved February 07, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "chron.com". Retrieved February 07, 2026.
