Beto O’Rourke. Photo: PAUL RATJE/AFP/Getty Images

Beto O’Rourke, the sweaty, skateboarding, bunny-petting, Beyoncé-endorsed Democratic Senate candidate challenging dreadful Ted Cruz, lost his 2018 midterm race. He came within three points of the Republican incumbent, earning 3.5 million votes in one of the biggest challenges to Texas Republicans in two decades. Beto’s campaign inspired millions of people across the state of Texas — including a 77-year-old woman who said that Beto gave her pride and “represents everything that Donald Trump isn’t.”

For so many who placed their hopes in Beto, a loss in 2018 isn’t the end: It’s the beginning. Across social media, people have already begun posting their Beto 2020 dreams. Olivia Wilde, actress and daughter of defeated Democratic candidate Leslie Cockburn, wrote “Beto 2020. Let’s do this.”

Beto 2020. Let’s do this. — olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) November 7, 2018

Political analysts began calculating his likely success based off of the results he turned out in Texas. “I do believe, fervently, Beto should run for President of the United States in 2020,” Seth Abramson, who is a contributor at CNN and the BBC, wrote.

What Beto O'Rourke did in Texas was absolutely amazing and—while I'm certainly not announcing support for any candidate—I do believe, fervently, Beto should run for President of the United States in 2020.



100% serious. If he can get 48% in Texas, anything is possible nationally. — Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) November 7, 2018

Eager supporters already began plotting their canvassing strategies, and others were envisioning themselves marking his name on the presidential ballot.

me going door to door campaigning for beto for 2020 pic.twitter.com/knTysypqbH — meg (@mofomegg) November 7, 2018

I didn’t get to vote for Beto in 2018...



But I have a feeling I will in 2020. — Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) November 7, 2018

Me when I saw that @BetoORourke didn’t win but also me when I saw that #Beto2020 is trending pic.twitter.com/IXFT6PnnL6 — Vee Madrid (@vianethhhm) November 7, 2018

Even though we’re just hours from the results 2018 midterm elections, Beto isn’t the only name being thrown around for 2020 presidential candidate. He’s one of many Democrats who are being considered in the search for a worthy challenger against Donald Trump, who endorsed Senator Ted Cruz, a man who joked about being the zodiac killer in order to seem more likeable.