Opinion

Cruz and O’Rourke in Senate race

The Editorial Board recommends Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Incumbent Ted Cruz is the board’s choice in the Republican primary. The Editorial Board recommends Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Incumbent Ted Cruz is the board’s choice in the Republican primary. Photo: William Luther /San Antonio Express-News Photo: William Luther /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Cruz and O’Rourke in Senate race 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

We recommend U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke in the Republican and Democratic primaries for this year’s senate race.

Cruz faces four relatively unknown primary challengers. O’Rourke has two opponents. But the political buzz is already about Cruz and O’Rourke in the fall, and for good reason. The two are adept fundraisers and aggressive campaigners, and they offer markedly different visions for Texas and the U.S. Senate at a unique political moment.

We have had our share of disagreements with Cruz, the government shutdown he led in 2013 among them. The government should never be shut down. Period.

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But Cruz, who is seeking his second term, sits on powerful committees that can serve Texas — and certainly could support many of the conservative causes important to Republican voters. He sits on the judiciary, science and armed services committees.

Cruz’s primary opponents repeatedly criticized him for being too focused on running for president rather than serving the state. We share this concern. When San Antonio inexplicably slipped in the federal rankings for a new federal courthouse — something desperately needed — local officials turned to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for help.

But Cruz was responsive to the 2016 hot air ballon crash in Lockhart that killed 16 people. Cruz filed needed legislation that would require medical exams for commercial hot air balloon pilots.

On the Democratic side, O’Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso, has run an energetic and compelling campaign. He has refused to accept money from political action committees but raised $2.4 million in the last quarter of 2017.

This is O’Rourke’s third term in Congress, and he could have easily held onto his seat. But he believes in term limits (eight years for the House and 12 in the Senate) and chose to give up his seat to make this run.

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O’Rourke is a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, renewable energy and improving health care for all. He showed an impressive command of national and international issues during a recent meeting with this Editorial Board. He is against shutting down the government.

O’Rourke and Cruz are easily the most qualified candidates in their races.