Long before Beto O’Rourke narrowly lost his 2018 race against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, presidential buzz surrounded him.
O’Rourke’s surprise announcement Friday afternoon that he was dropping out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary brought to a halt his meteoric rise to political fame.
Along the way, O’Rourke provided countless viral moments and stem-winders. Here are a few key moments from the campaign trail with O’Rourke:
Nov. 26: O’Rourke flirts with running for president
At his first public appearance after losing the high-profile Senate race, O’Rourke fueled speculation that he’d seek the highest office in the land. "Amy and I will think about what we can do next to contribute to the best of our ability to this community,” he said in front of a crowd of more than 200 people.
Jan. 10: O’Rourke breaks the internet at the dentist’s office
One of O’Rourke’s major strengths as a politician has been his keen ability to get people talking on social media. He proved he still had the nation’s attention in early January when he livestreamed a trip to the dentist’s office and provided viewers a glimpse inside his mouth.
Jan. 19: O’Rourke hits the road to find himself
O’Rourke, still stinging from his loss to Cruz, hit the road to rediscover his roots and shake his “funk.” Among the stops were Bucklin, Kan., a small town where his great-grandparents got married in 1906. O’Rourke chronicled his trips in a series of posts on the website Medium.
Feb. 12: O’Rourke takes the fight to Trump
O’Rourke punched up when he staged his own rally to counter President Donald Trump’s rally in El Paso. Nearly 8,000 people marched with O’Rourke to protest the president’s visit aiming to highlight the border wall. "With the eyes of the country upon us, all of us are going to make our stand,” O’Rourke said in his hometown.
March 13: O’Rourke kicks off campaign with Vanity Fair cover
Presidential candidates almost always seek a unique way to own the news cycle following their announcement. O’Rourke made a splash with a Vanity Fair cover photo taken by the esteemed Annie Leibovitz. The headline on the cover was O’Rourke’s quote “I’m just born to be in it.” On Friday, after O’Rourke announced he was dropping out, Trump tweeted, “I don’t think so!”
March 14: O’Rourke takes Iowa by storm, stands on tables
O’Rourke met standing room-only crowds when he landed in Iowa, home of the nation’s first nominating caucus. So, he did the only thing that made sense to him and stood on diner counters and restaurant tables. Social media got a kick out of it.
June 26: O’Rourke speaks Spanish at the first Democratic presidential primary debate, shocks Booker
Ears perked up when O’Rourke broke into Spanish at the first presidential debate in Miami. And no one was more stunned than U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. A clip of Booker reacting to O’Rourke’s Spanish with a puzzled look went viral.
Aug 3: O’Rourke stops campaigning after El Paso shooting
O’Rourke halted his presidential campaign to return to his hometown after a gunman entered a Walmart in El Paso and killed 22 people. At the time, he said the shooting “crushed” him. He suspended his campaign for 12 days and missed an appearance at the Iowa State Fair, a crucial stop on the road to the Iowa caucuses. O’Rourke later said, “People are really coming together amid this horrible tragedy. ... They’re so incredibly strong. They’re just my heroes.”
Sept. 12: ‘Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15’
During the Democratic presidential debate in Houston, O’Rourke solidified his position on the mandatory buyback of assault weapon-style firearms and declared, “Hell, yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-47.” The comment became a flashpoint in the gun debate, and his proposal has gained some public support in recent polls.
Oct 10: O’Rourke says churches that oppose same-sex marriage should lose tax-exempt status
During a CNN town hall devoted to LGBTQ issues, O’Rourke said any religious institution such as a college, church or charity should lose its tax-exempt status if it opposes same-sex marriage. Trump called O’Rourke a “wacko” for his stance.
Oct. 17: O’Rourke stages ‘Rally Against Fear’ when Trump visits Dallas
While Trump filled American Airlines Center in Dallas for a campaign rally, 5,550 people gathered at the Theatre in Grand Prairie for another O’Rourke counter-rally. He told people at the “Rally Against Fear” that they needed to stand up to Trump’s rhetoric.
Paul Cobler reported from Washington, and Nic Garcia reported from Dallas.
