Rep. Beto O’Rourke, R-Texas, will announce that he will challenge Sen. Ted Cruz for his seat in 2018, and likely forego seeking a fourth term in the House of Representatives.
According to the Houston Chronicle, O’Rourke, 44, will announce his intention to challenge Cruz on Friday at an event in his native El Paso, which the campaign has teased as a “big announcement” without laying out any specifics.
“Together, we can do something really big, and really powerful for the state of Texas — and for this country. Congressman Beto O’Rourke has a big announcement to make on Friday,” said O’Rourke’s campaign said in an email to supporters.
In January, O’Rourke told the Texas Tribune it was “very likely” that he would run for the seat.
O’Rourke is one of two Texas Democrats who could take the plunge and challenge the incumbent Republican. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, who Cruz has mentioned specifically in emails to supporters, is also considering a run.
Despite O’Rourke’s likely campaign and Castro’s possible entrance, it will likely be an uphill battle for any Democrat in the deep-red state. No Democrat has won a Senate contest in Texas since Lloyd Bentson won his fourth term in 1988.
Along with the two Democratic congressmen, ABC News political analyst and former George W. Bush aide Matthew Dowd is also considering an independent bit for the seat.
A spokesperson for Cruz declined to comment.
