Is Beto O'Rourke a potential presidential candidate? Joe Kennedy says the Texas congressman could be a 'dark horse' for 2020

U.S. Congressman Beto O'Rourke, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's seat in the next election, talks to the public during a rally at No Label Brewery Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Katy. ( Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle ) less U.S. Congressman Beto O'Rourke, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's seat in the next election, talks to the public during a rally at No Label Brewery Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, in Katy. ( Yi-Chin Lee / ... more Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photo: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Is Beto O'Rourke a potential presidential candidate? 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

If Beto O'Rourke wins a seat in the U.S. Senate this year, one notable member of Congress thinks that it would make him a dark horse contender for the White House.

In a Facebook Live video recorded while driving around Houston together, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Massachusetts, deflected talk of him running for president by suggesting instead that O'Rourke might be the better candidate. While their banter was mostly playful, Kennedy did explain why he thought the Texas congressman is one of the dark horse contenders.

"Look, for a Democrat, at the moment, to be able win statewide in Texas, I actually think is more difficult than to run for president," Kennedy said with O'Rourke sitting in the passenger seat.

O'Rourke is trying to oust U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November. No Democrat has won a seat in the U.S. Senate from Texas since 1992.

Kennedy and O'Rourke were driving around Houston on Wednesday getting from one political event to the next, including a meeting with AFL-CIO leaders.

Kennedy's comments came just moments after O'Rourke held up a campaign button that said Joe Joe 2020 -- a reference to former Vice President Joe Biden and Joe Kennedy being on a ticket for the White House.

Kennedy, 37, was in Houston to be with his in-laws for the Easter weekend. He agreed to help drive O'Rourke, 45, and his campaign supporters around Houston to events.

O'Rourke is known for being quick to turn on Facebook Live while driving around Texas for campaign events, or even updating supporters during key votes in Congress.

O'Rourke jokes at one point during the nearly 30-minute-long drive with Kennedy that it's nice to have someone with Boston driving experience to cut through the Houston traffic. O'Rourke followed that up by jokingly asking Kennedy if Bostonians drive on the right side of the road or the left.

"It doesn't really matter, actually," Kennedy responds. "Wherever there is less traffic ... You drive wherever there isn't a barrier or traffic."

Watch the Facebook Live video here: https://www.facebook.com/betoorourke/videos/1602136556502715/

Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace.