In modern politics, it is rare that members of the U.S. House of Representatives leap to the presidency. House members with presidential aspirations usually use the House as a gateway to a higher office, such as U.S. Senate, governor, or the presidential cabinet, before they attempt to grab the brass ring.
But the 2020 presidential sweepstakes breaks from the mold. It already a bumper crop of incumbent and recently retired House members. Perhaps it’s because the last two presidents lacked formidable political experience (Barack Obama was a freshman U.S. senator, and Donald Trump never held public office), but House members no longer see a perceived lack of experience as an insuperable obstacle.
Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke just became a national figure by losing a bid for the U.S. Senate. In the House, he had been a backbencher, serving in just his third congressional term, when he engaged in what many political observers saw as a quixotic effort to dislodge the high-profile incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. O’Rourke’s campaign became a cause celebre for many in the national Democratic community because he connected with Lone Star state voters in a way Democrats hadn’t previously. He exhibited a charismatic persona and stood out by refusing donations from political action committees.
O’Rourke lost his race by less than three percentage points, but he established a network of supporters from around the country. And he’s not the first person ever to run with such a resume. Before becoming our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln had served just one term in the House. He became a national figure after debating his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas, in his closely watched bid for Senate in 1858. Although he lost the race, Lincoln’s opposition to the expansion of slavery made him a national figure. Two years later, he became the Republican presidential nominee and won.
Another great example is William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska. In just his second term in the House, Bryan sought an open Senate seat in 1894. At the time, the country was mired in an economic depression. His party was sharply divided. A burgeoning liberal faction in the party favored government intervention in the economy and the free coinage of silver, which President Grover Cleveland opposed.
Though Bryan lost, his nationally covered race afforded him the opportunity to become the preeminent voice for the new populist wing of the Democratic Party. He stayed in the national spotlight after his defeat, embarking on a nationwide speaking tour excoriating the presidential policies of Cleveland. In 1896, he captivated the Democratic National Convention with an address lamenting the gold standard, and he won the Democratic presidential nomination. Bryan was just 36 years old at the time.
O’Rourke could also be compared to Democratic Rep. Mo Udall of Arizona. Udall became a tribune of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party for his denunciation of the U.S. role in the Vietnam War and for his environmental advocacy. In addition, Udall sported a staunchly liberal House voting record. Like Lincoln and Bryan, Udall also suffered an election defeat which propelled him into the national spotlight. In fact, he lost two elections in a row.
In 1976, with a national profile in tow, Udall ran for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was not seen as a backbencher but as an unreserved liberal champion who had challenged the status quo. Udall garnered much liberal support against more conservative candidates. However, he had the misfortune of constantly finishing second to other contenders. In fact, Udall won just one state, his home state of Arizona. He took it in stride, calling himself “Second Place Mo.” ABC news declared Udall the winner in the critical Wisconsin primary, prompting Udall to aver: “How sweet it is.” However, the results were premature, and former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter actually eked out the victory.
Lincoln, Bryan, and Udall all leveraged their losses to become viable presidential contenders. O’Rourke, has garnered national attention since losing his Senate race. He has proven himself an indefatigable campaigner and has arguably risen from an obscure member of the House to a potent potential presidential contender.
Politics is largely about timing. This may be O’Rourke’s only opportunity to prove his electoral timber. Had he won the Senate race, in which he promised not to run for the presidency in 2020, his window may have closed. If he had run further down the road, he would not be seen as a fresh face but as an aging politician. Will he will be successful in seizing the moment? Time will tell.
Rich Rubino is the author of American Politics on the Rocks and The Political Bible of Humorous Quotations From American Politics. He lives in Marblehead, Mass.
