AUSTIN, Texas _ Beto O'Rourke hasn't experienced much political success of late, but he's hoping to help other Democrats in Texas win races in the coming year.
Seven weeks after ending his presidential bid, O'Rourke announced Friday that he would create a new grassroots organization that will aim to support Democratic candidates in Texas House races and Texas congressional races, as well as the Democratic nominee for president.
In an email to supporters, O'Rourke said the group, called Powered by People, will organize volunteers to register voters, knock on doors and make phone calls.
The group joins other Democratic efforts to mobilize Democratic voters next year in key races around the state, mostly in traditionally Republican suburban areas that have been trending blue.
O'Rourke, a former three-term congressman from El Paso, rose to national prominence during a close, but losing race for U.S. Senate last year against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. He ended his presidential campaign Nov. 1.
He recently spent two days in Fort Bend County to boost the campaign of Eliz Markowitz, a candidate running in a special election runoff in Texas House District 28. That seat had been held by John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican who stepped down earlier this year.
"If she wins her special election on January 28th, she will move us one seat closer to Democratic control of the state house for the first time since 2001," he wrote. "And because this seat has always been a shoe-in for Republicans, her victory would signal a sea change for Texas leading into the 2020 general election."
O'Rourke said the race will give Democrats a shot of picking up the nine seats needed to control the Texas House, beat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and more.
"It will help energize the broad grassroots support necessary for the Democratic Presidential nominee to win Texas' 38 Electoral College votes _ our best shot at defeating Trump and Trumpism forever," O'Rourke wrote.
The state Democratic Party is targeting 22 GOP-held seats and Republicans are looking flip 12 Democratic seats.
Additionally, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting six GOP-held congressional districts in Texas. Three are in the Austin area: the 10th Congressional District, held by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin; the 21st Congressional District, held by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Hays County; and the 31rd District, held by U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock. All of the incumbents are running for reelection.
