Kevin C. Downs/Redux Beto O'Rourke speaks at a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, in March 2019. In photos: Former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke

Kevin C. Downs/Redux Beto O'Rourke speaks at a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, in March 2019.

Beto O'Rourke, a former congressman from El Paso, Texas, launched his presidential campaign in March and promised "the largest grassroots campaign this country has ever seen."

But that is all coming to an end.

"Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully," he announced on his Twitter account on November 1. "My service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee."

O'Rourke rose to Democratic stardom in 2018 while challenging for the US Senate seat held by Ted Cruz. He lost the race by less than 3 percentage points, finishing closer than many other Democrats have finished in a state that's long been a GOP stronghold. And he shattered fundraising records along the way, ending with an $80 million haul.