The Texas GOP's attack on Beto O'Rourke backfired because, well, he's kind of hot.

O'Rourke's campaign for Ted Cruz's Senate seat has been gaining support with young voters, thanks to his progressive platform that includes decriminalizing cannabis, single-payer healthcare, and immigration reform.

Oh, and he was in a punk band.

The Texas GOP attacked O'Rourke by tweeting a photo from the Democratic candidate's days as a bassist for the punk rock band Foss. "Sorry, can't debate," the text over the very punk rock photo says. "We have a gig."

Maybe Beto can’t debate Ted Cruz because he already had plans... pic.twitter.com/LdqKTh3yK4 — Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) August 28, 2018

The tweet was spurred by O'Rourke declining to debate Cruz on Friday. Last month, Cruz proposed five debates leading up to the election and sent an outline with locations, topics, and dates.

According to O'Rourke, Cruz's campaign has tried to dictate the debates' moderators and talking points, and his own campaign is "trying to introduce more of a collaborative style to the negotiations than he [Cruz] may be used to."

Twitter users wondered why the GOP would think that O'Rourke's punk past would deter potential voters.

This makes me like him more. We need elected officials who've lived life, who aren't walking corpses in suits. #backfire — Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) August 29, 2018

Also, we know for sure he couldn't be the Zodiac Killer, so he's got one over Cruz already. — Nintendo PS4 (@Hola_Vicente) August 29, 2018

And others roasted Cruz for never being cool enough.

...while Ted Cruz was roaming the halls of his co-ed Princeton dorm in a bathrobe. 🤷‍♀️ — Emily (@EnergizerNYC) August 29, 2018

This is two more friends than Ted Cruz has ever had. — Chris Jackson (@ChrisCJackson) August 29, 2018

TED CRUZ: Back in high school, my opponent was the guy who invented the cool S thing that everyone loves to draw. Me? I was too busy doing a little something called “fishing my briefcase out of the pool” and “crying at Model UN.” — stefan heck (@boring_as_heck) August 29, 2018

If we're going to talk about embarrassing pasts, there are pictures of Ted Cruz dressed as a mime. A BIBLICAL mime.

Is Ted Cruz really trying to scare voters with pictures from Beto's band days when there are pictures of him out there as a mime? pic.twitter.com/waHTLM1fi5 — Schooley (@Rschooley) August 29, 2018

here’s what ted cruz and beto o’rourke were doing to unwind during roughly the same period pic.twitter.com/yxsXGaaF0y — Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) August 29, 2018

Then the GOP doubled down by posting a mugshot of O'Rourke — he was charged with burglary in 1995 for jumping a fence and was arrested for a DUI in 1998, but is open about his past.

"Both incidents were due to poor judgement and I have no excuse for my behavior then," O'Rourke said last year. "However, since then, I have used my opportunities to serve my community and my state. I'm grateful for the second chance and believe that we all deserve second chances."

"There's always the chance that Robert 'Beto' O'Rourke won't debate Senator Cruz because he got into a hazy situation," the Texas GOP tweeted, as if people refer to the Republican senator as Rafael "Ted" Cruz.

There's always the chance that Robert “Beto” O’Rourke won’t debate Senator Cruz because he got into a hazy situation... pic.twitter.com/4nmd42AEkl — Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) August 29, 2018

And if we're being honest, the Congressman looks ... kind of hot in this picture too. From the hair to the smolder to that slight pout, Beto O'Rourke a Democratic bass-wielding, criminal justice-reforming, pro-choice snack.

Twitter agreed — the Texas GOP's smear attempt backfired completely.

I'm sorry but the only thing this photo illustrates is that he could Beto my bussy up any time. https://t.co/0R97sz3PrY — Gabe Gonzalez (@gaybonez) August 29, 2018

wow more like BAE-to o'rourke, tbh https://t.co/XTcMz5FAGS — maya kosoff (@mekosoff) August 29, 2018

Not sure posting photos of Beto O'Rourke looking super hot in the '90s is the best strategy, but I'm gonna assume the Texas GOP know what they're doing. — Maggie Serota (@maggieserota) August 29, 2018

why'd they tweet this photo of beto looking hot as fuck https://t.co/bX4rJIknpj — libby watson (@libbycwatson) August 29, 2018

My mugshot WISHES omg https://t.co/wqUChNf7mn — cynthia frost/nixon (@sydneyjanexo) August 29, 2018

Beto slide into my dms tho https://t.co/aGskXxYZpq — P. E. Moskowitz (@ptrmsk) August 29, 2018

Here's a recent picture of Beto O'Rourke from this summer, proving the punk rock Senate hopeful has aged like fine wine.

Image: Rick Kern/getty images

The Texas GOP has not posted any more pictures of Young Beto since Tuesday.