Democrat Senate Candidate Rep. Beto O’Rourke might be a hit among the Lone Star State’s recent liberal transplants, but jumping a plane to L.A. for a Hollywood fundraising gig is not a good look. And yet…

Monday, Variety reported that Rep. O’Rourke was in L.A. “at the home of actress Nancy Stephens and director-producer Rick Rosenthal for an evening reception.”

He’ll be at the home of actress Nancy Stephens and director-producer Rick Rosenthal for an evening reception, with ticket prices starting at $250 per person. Those who contribute $2,700 per person or raise at least $5,000 earn a spot on the host committee. Cook Political Report classifies the Senate race as “likely Republican.” While O’Rourke’s chances are still classified as a bit long by the political punditry, he raised $6.7 million, more than twice that of Cruz, in the first quarter. That includes about $167,000 from entertainment industry sources, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. His donors so far include Tate Donovan, Rian Johnson, Phil Lord, Connie Britton, Aubrey Plaza, Bob Odenkirk, Jim Gianopulos, and Tom Rothman. Chelsea Handler is among those who have been publicly championing O’Rourke in Twitter posts. Co-hosts for Monday’s event include Tom and Ellen Hoberman, Phil Mercado and Todd Quinn, Cotty Chubb, Pat Klous and Roman Silberfeld, Charles Horak, Thao Nguyen and Andreas Krainer, Alan Rosenberg, Cate Park, Jon Vein and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Marilyn Bitner, Jonathan Berry, Wendy Wanderman and Lynne Wasserman.

Variety reported this is at least the third such fundraiser O’Rourke has held in California for his Senate campaign.

Both Cruz and O’Rourke have received more than $2 million in donations from out of state. A feat not entirely surprising for Sen. Cruz who established a national fundraising base during his failed run for president in 2016.

The Houston Chronicle charted the breakdown:

But much like any Texas Democrat who gains a little steam, liberals (especially political reporters with little to no working knowledge of Texas or Texans) believe an upset is imminent. See also: Wendy Davis.

Just a few days ago, Politico published a cheerleading piece called, “Beto-mania Sweeps Texas.”

I’m not sure if it was intentional, hubris, or a complete lack of self-awareness, but the author describes his first brush with “Beto-mania” at a bar in D.C. Not Texas, D.C.

Then, the author described a campaign event held at a bar in Ft. Worth, Texas thusly:

A half-hour before the event’s 8 p.m. start time, several hundred people already filled the bar and its adjoining yard, driven there by Facebook and word-of-mouth.

Only to say later that the event featured several other Democrat candidates and oh, by the way, the Texas Democrat convention was also in town.

There are few things that make native Texans bristle quicker than outsiders, especially liberal coastal elites, telling Texans what’s best for Texas, but that never stops them from trying.

Hey, Texas! I suppose you're going to re-elect Ted Cruz, but I hope you don't. Beto O'Rourke is mega-cool. Smart, too. Also, jeez, do we have to look at Ted for another six years? The mind reels. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) July 10, 2018

Despite one outlier, polling is not in O’Rourke’s favor. Just take a look at the last few polls (as compiled by Real Clear Politics):

Texas has taken in hundreds of thousands of refugees from states in economic decline. Some bring their liberal politics with them, many don’t. The state’s changing demographics make it susceptible to purple status at some point down the road, but not in 2018.



