Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D-Texas) will reportedly announce a 2020 White House bid Thursday.

The ex-congressman confirmed his plans to enter the race officially in a text message to El Paso NBC affiliate KTSM, which reported that O'Rourke will make his official announcement Thursday morning.

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News of his definitive plans to run follow a Vanity Fair profile of O'Rourke published Wednesday in which he strongly hinted at a desire to pursue a presidential run.

“You can probably tell that I want to run,” he told Vanity Fair. “I do. I think I’d be good at it.”

Speculation has swirled around the possibility of O'Rourke announcing a White House run since last year, when he narrowly lost a bid to oust Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R-Texas) by single digits.

Political analysts questioned whether O'Rourke, 46, would attempt another run for Senate, this time against Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas), or if he would join the growing field of Democrats seeking the party's 2020 nomination.

O'Rourke previously stoked rumors of a run last month with a rally in El Paso, Texas, timed as a counterrally to one held by President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE in the city to support his plan for a border wall.

During the interview with Vanity Fair, O'Rourke pledged to build his campaign with a diverse team of advisers, while conceding that some voters would be looking elsewhere for a candidate in 2020.

"If I were to run, I think it’s just so important that those who would comprise my team looked like this country. If I were to run, if I were to win, that my administration looks like this country. It’s the only way I know to meet that challenge," O'Rourke told the magazine.

“But I totally understand people who will make a decision based on the fact that almost every single one of our presidents has been a white man, and they want something different for this country,” he continued. “And I think that’s a very legitimate basis upon which to make a decision."

A three-term congressman, O'Rourke left the House in January and has since spent weeks on tour with his advisers while avoiding early primary states. He has been weighing a trip to Iowa in recent weeks.

Updated at 8:15 p.m.