As Beto ORourke Weighs 2020 Run Democrats Chafe at His Go-It-Alone Style

(New York Times) By Matt Flegenheimer and Alexander Burns For a moment in August an event hall in Texas teemed with hope taquitos and unity. It was a border-town stop for Beto ORourkes Senate campaign but another Democratic politician commanded particular attention: Gina Ortiz Jones a history-making congressional candidate gay Filipina-American an Iraq war veteran hoping to turn a majority-Hispanic district blue. Really special person" Mr. ORourke said as Ms. Jones stood and waved. But soon a county chairwoman posed an uncomfortable question. Mr. ORourke had not endorsed Ms. Jones. In fact he had elevated her Republican opponent Representative Will Hurd with frequent praise and most memorably a live-streamed bipartisan road trip that helped jump-start their midterm campaigns. Would Mr. ORourke support the Democrat? He would not. This is a place where my politics and my job and my commitment to this country come into conflict" Mr. ORourke said. Im going to put country over party." Some supporters of Ms. Jones saw it differently: Beto ORourke was once again putting Beto ORourke first.