Beto O’Rourke is the Democrat best positioned to win Texas, and transform America

By Mustafa Tameez

To win the future, reform our government, and transform America, the Democratic Party needs to break with legacy thinking. Too many Democratic insiders over too many cycles have focused on a narrow band of so-called “battleground states.” Decades of neglect and strategic malpractice have led us to narrow, devastating losses in the Electoral College, even while winning the national popular vote.

Advocating for a better strategy does not require abandoning the Midwest. The electoral gains in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin are encouraging, but Democrats cannot settle for a strategy of a narrow Electoral College win, when we should be expanding the map. Our 2020 nomination should not be defined as who can win the White House while leaving the rest of the party behind; but who can win the White House while expanding our majority in the House, winning the Senate, and flipping hundreds of down-ballot races.

Beto O’Rourke is the Democrat best positioned to lead this transformation. While Beto’s campaign for the US Senate was unsuccessful, he now has proven coattails. Beto’s candidacy helped Democrats flip two Congressional seats in Texas, with nine more Republican seats decided by single digits (three of which Beto won). Democrats won twelve state house seats – placing them nine seats from flipping the chamber and breaking the trifecta – with Beto winning nine state house seats still held by Republicans. Democrats also won local county races – flipping executive races in Harris, Hays, Fort Bend, Cameron, and Nueces counties for the first time in generations.

The Electoral Prize

After posting the best Democratic performance in Texas in 24 years, Beto O’Rourke is uniquely positioned to leverage our 38 Electoral votes for the Democratic Party in 2020. No Republican, not Donald Trump, not Mike Pence, not John Kasich or Jeff Flake, has a path to the Presidency without Texas.

Once (not if) Democrats secure Texas, it will have a transformational ripple effect on our national politics. Republicans would be forced to moderate their policies – on healthcare, education, and national security – and have an actual economic policy consisting of something more than corporate tax cuts. Flipping Texas could help break the fever of deep division in America, and give us a chance to work towards more sensible, bipartisan outcomes.

Transforming Democratic Strategy

Democratic insiders have cultivated and profited from their historic focus on “swing voters,” to the detriment of the party and our country. Their critics have argued for a more diverse path, focused on younger voters and voters of color. Beto O’Rourke showed how this debate is a false choice.

Yes, enormous demographic shifts are playing out across our politics, especially in Texas. Millennials and younger voters continue to age into the electorate, and their share of the population will soon match the share of seniors. The majority of our electorate – like the nation as a whole – is female. And yes, the population of our cities and suburbs are booming, driven by people from across America and around the world who come seeking better economic opportunities.

Beto galvanized hundreds of thousands of disaffected voters, and he also critically won in the suburbs of our major metro areas. His “cities-out” organizing model, as well being the first modern candidate to visit all of our 254 counties – “everywhere, all the time” – was refreshing and relentless.

Beto ran a multi-generational and inclusive campaign, inspiring and attracting unlikely voters back to the Democratic fold. He hired an enormous and diverse staff of field organizers, generating millions of knocks, phone calls, and text messages. He won support from young voters and votes of color, while also making historic gains among suburban voters – especially suburban women. He called on voters – regardless of party – to join his campaign, and he personifies the energy and outside-the-box thinking we need to change our politics.

A Message of Reform, Inclusion, and Change

Beto also ran an optimistic and relentlessly positive campaign. He rejected PAC money because he recognized how many voters feel the special interests have too much power. He urged voters to reject division and negativity. Beto defended immigrants, he called for a stronger economy, and he demanded justice for everyone. He sacrificed a lot of time with his family in an effort to transform Texas for all of our families. He showed America what’s possible, and gives us Texans hope there are better days ahead.

Now is the Time

The insiders have been telling Texas to wait. Wait for demographics. Wait until we win other places. Wait for resources, wait for investment, wait your turn. Many of those insiders also scoffed at Beto O’Rourke’s candidacy, and ridiculed his campaign tactics. Now many of them are either trying to get into his potential presidential campaign, or are again telling him to wait.

All of them have missed what Beto learned in his more than 300 town meetings across our state – our people want authentic leaders who will listen to them, who will put us first, and who will fight for meaningful change. Guess what, America. He’s right.

Beto O’Rourke shouldn’t wait – and neither should we. America needs a candidate with the energy, strength, and creativity to break the wheel of traditional party politics, and who can unite America around an inclusive vision of restoration, renewal and reform. Run, Beto. RUN!

Mustafa Tameez, a Houston-based Democratic strategist, is the founder and managing director of Outreach Strategists, a communications and public affairs firm.