Texas Democrat Senate candidate Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke claimed in an interview released Sunday evening that he has shied away from campaigning with Democrats from outside the Lone Star State because he wants voters to decide who they will support “on their own terms.” The comments from Beto O’Rourke come after the far-left candidate has received large campaign contributions from Hollywood celebrities.

While prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have crisscrossed the country in support of candidates such as gubernatorial hopefuls Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams, none have campaigned for O’Rourke in Texas. “I’m not distancing myself. But I don’t want anyone coming in from the outside. I want the people of Texas to decide this on, on their own terms,” Beto O’Rourke told CBS’s 60 Minutes.

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O’Rourke’s comments stand in stark contrast to his embrace of Hollywood’s biggest stars, who have poured millions into his campaign. Support for Democrats from Tinseltown left-wingers is nothing new, but O’Rourke has taken it to new heights this midterm election.

The Democratic congressman whom, who according to RealClearPolitics, trails his Republican rival Sen. Ted Cruz by 6.5 percent, has been ubiquitous on the showbiz circuit.

After making a September appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show, O’Rourke jetted to Manhattan, showing up on Stephen Colbert’s late-night show and attending a fundraiser hosted by Bravo network’s Andy Cohen. Later, country singer Willie Nelson threw a concert for O’Rourke in Austin, Texas.

Mr. Nelson has long called Texas home and thus will probably seem less Hollywood than others. Yet as the social media backlash against his upcoming gig showed, not everyone is happy to see the stars come out.

Hollywood’s swollen wallets have often opened for liberal causes and Democrats, although often that is most noticeable in presidential elections and with national topics such as gun control or abortion. The 2018 midterms, with a progressive base energized by animus toward President Trump, offer an unusual moment in which movie stars are getting more granular, as in Mr. O’Rourke’s bid to unseat Cruz.

Cruz previously spoofed Hollywood’s Beto love affair with a photoshopped picture of “BETOWOOD” as the famed sign in the hills above Los Angeles. “We’ve been told that Hollywood is afraid of being outdone by New York after last night’s fundraiser, so now they’re pulling out all the stops. #DontCaliforniaOurTexas,” Cruz tweeted along with the humorous graphic.

We've been told that Hollywood is afraid of being outdone by New York after last night's fundraiser, so now they're pulling out all the stops… #TXSen #DontCaliforniaOurTexas pic.twitter.com/Bak8D9sfGW — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 13, 2018

Employees at Creative Artists Agency, a Hollywood powerhouse firm, have donated $12,100 to Mr. O’Rourke, good for 48th on his list of most common employers among contributors. Overall, CAA employees have donated nearly $2250,000 to Democrats this cycle, compared to $13,000 to GOP candidates, according to the Center for Responsive Politics’ numbers.

According to FEC filings, Beto O’Rourke is getting donations from some of the biggest liberal celebrities in America.

Recent FEC filings show O’Rourke received checks from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. “Sarah Jessica Parker, Jimmy Kimmel and Rosie O’Donnell have each thrown down $2,700 … while Chelsea Handler plunked down $2,500 and Chris Rock has tossed in $1,000. Beto also got $5,400 each from Connie Britton, Tate Donovan and ‘Star Wars’ director Rian Johnson,” reported TMZ.

Republican officials in Texas said they are familiar with facing off against on-screen star power.

“It just shows again that O’Rourke’s base of support is a collection of bicoastal liberals in Hollywood and New York,” said state GOP Chairman James Dickey. “Fortunately, Hollywood’s never spoken for Texas voters, because Beto O’Rourke’s off-the-cliff liberal policies may be attractive to Californians, but not Texans. Texans appreciate that life is better in Texas because of policies Ted Cruz and the Republican leadership have put in place here.”