It’s got to be hard to be Beto O’Rourke these days. Preparing for the Democratic debate on Tuesday night, he must feel as if he’s been shipped to an alternate universe, like when Superman found himself trapped in Bizarroworld, where everything was the same but completely different.

Not that long ago — November 2018 — Mr. O’Rourke was beloved, worshiped and adored. He became one of those first-name-only people, someone whose sweaty oxford shirts had a power akin to the Shroud of Turin. He narrowly lost to Senator Ted Cruz. But he was the guy brave enough to challenge Voldemort, and though he wasn’t victorious, Mr. O’Rourke’s place near the top of the ticket swept a new crew of Texas Democrats into office who were younger, more diverse and more progressive. He showed the world (and even his own state) a Texas that had little to no relation to the hayseed stereotype of old — a sophisticated, diverse, forward-looking Texas.

Even in defeat, Mr. O’Rourke appeared bound for bigger things. He enjoyed the full Annie Leibovitz cover treatment in Vanity Fair. His future was the subject of great debate: Should he run for Senate again, against John Cornyn? Or should he go all the way? Or what about Biden-Beto?

And then it all went poof. If you need exhibit A, please examine Mr. O’Rourke’s fund-raising for the second quarter. The once obscure congressman from El Paso who brought in an astounding nearly $80 million in his Senate race reported a measly $3.6 million, way down from his $9.4 million in the first quarter. Jay Inslee is gaining on him.