Outgoing Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) has been honored as “El Pasoan of the Year” by El Paso Inc. following his narrow 2018 Senate loss in the ruby-red state.

O’Rourke, who lost his bid in November to unseat incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE (R-Texas) in a race that was much closer than most recent races in the Lone Star State, was awarded the honor by his hometown’s weekly business magazine on Sunday.

The congressman, who has hinted at a possible 2020 White House bid, lauded his hometown in an interview with the journal, saying he “loved using El Paso as the example throughout the campaign.”

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“It’s so much of what’s right with the country and is what I want the rest of the country to see,” he continued.

“There’s so many ways El Paso itself is the answer to this moment and the answer to the question the country is asking about itself: ‘Who are we?’ ” he continued.

O'Rourke won 48 percent of the vote in the Texas Senate election, losing to Cruz by 3 points.

O'Rourke was able to raise a record $80 million during the election cycle, according to a local Fox affiliate, despite only accepting individual contributions to his campaign and refusing money from political action committees.

“Putting politics aside, I don’t think anyone has put a more positive light on El Paso in the history of our community on a national basis,” Josh Hunt, an El Paso businessman, said to the station of O'Rourke's honor. “For a community always fighting so many misconceptions, no one has more effectively communicated the true realities of living on the border and its benefits to the state and country.”

“He is an extraordinary public servant and an even more extraordinary candidate,” O’Rourke’s successor, Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar Veronica EscobarRaces heat up for House leadership posts Ahead of a coronavirus vaccine, Mexico's drug pricing to have far-reaching impacts on Americans Hispanic Caucus asks for Department of Labor meeting on COVID in meatpacking plants MORE (D), also told the station.

“He has raised the bar as an elected official and set a new standard for community engagement,” she added.

In November, O'Rourke said he would not rule out a run for president in 2020, backtracking on previous statements that he would not seek the White House.