Beto O’Rourke’s campaign has struggled since its launch just a few months ago. At first, we thought this was just a name recognition issue, and that certain reactionary groups adjacent to the Democratic Party were succeeding in their efforts to destroy him. Since then, however, it has become clear to us that our comrade has lost his way. The promise of Beto’s campaign — an unapologetic and profoundly intersectional declaration of class war against the GOP — has been rebranded, homogenized, and silenced by a team of elite consultants who have captured his agenda.

About two weeks ago, word began to spread that Beto would “reboot” his campaign. And since then, after some difficult conversations with our comrades, we have come to believe that this reboot is actually an admission of defeat. Instead of fighting to win, we believe that Beto intends to fight for second place: a vice presidential nomination under Joe Biden.

This is unacceptable. There are several progressive Democrats running who promise real change, real progress for representation, and a real advance in the fight against intersectional oppression…but their names are not Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden. We are not going to help the Beto campaign become a mere attack dog for one of them against the other. We are not going to let the establishment force us to choose between the white male old guard when there are so many young, diverse, and radical alternatives to choose from:

Kamala Harris, who would be our first WOC Commander-in-Chief…

Elizabeth Warren, another “wonky woman” with the smarts we need…

Pete Buttigieg, gay and a military veteran…

We believe that any one of these candidates can bring the change that our country so desperately needs. That is the fight that socialists need to get behind…and unlike Beto, we are in it to win it.

As we decide who to throw our weight behind in the coming weeks and months, we will be watching these campaigns — and listening to you.

In solidarity,

Socialists for Democrats.