FORT WORTH, Texas _ Beto O'Rourke isn't on the ballot this year.
But the former Texas congressman's name is being tossed around by Democrats and Republicans alike as the March 3 primary election _ Super Tuesday _ looms.
True, he dropped out of the Democratic presidential race last year.
Still, the results the El Paso Democrat saw two years ago _ running a competitive race in his bid to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, losing statewide but claiming a narrow victory in conservative Tarrant County _ are a key factor in this year's election for some.
Were those results a mere blip?
Or the beginning of change?
"Beto O'Rourke is the single Democrat to run a credible statewide election campaign in this century, so he is a logical focal point both for Democrats who hope his campaign in 2018 might be a springboard for Democratic success and for Republicans who want to use him to rally their party members," said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at TCU.
It's called the Beto effect.
O'Rourke is campaigning for some candidates this year and he launched an effort to help Democrats reclaim the majority in the Texas House of Representatives.
At the same time, Republicans ranging from President Donald Trump to state Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth are invoking his name.
And his efforts have impressed some Texas Democrats so much that six candidates are including the nickname "Beto" on the primary ballot. Until now, O'Rourke had been the only candidate with that nickname on the ballot since 2012, the first year he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives.
"O'Rourke is the living, breathing symbol of Democratic resurgence in Texas," said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. "His presence and help for Democrats up and down the ballot gives the party a boost from a campaign veteran and a wildly popular figure for many progressives in Texas.
"The Democratic Party needs buy-in from voters and donors that the gains in 2018 are real."
About a month after he ended his presidential bid, O'Rourke announced that he was going to help Democrats try to gain a majority in the Texas House of Representatives. His effort comes at a crucial time, since the majority party in the House in 2021 will have a key role in redistricting.
Despite his distaste for political action committees, he helped create one _ Powered by People _ to raise money for the effort.
The goal is to target 17 House districts where Republicans won by less than 10 percentage points in 2018. He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he doesn't have a "target list" just yet, since he's first focusing on the Jan. 28 special election for House District 28 to replace state Republican Rep. John Zerwas, who resigned.
Voters in that race will choose between Democrat Eliz Markowitz and Republican Gary Gates.
"Very focused on helping to mobilize volunteers in critical state House races like HD 28 in Fort Bend, and others in the Fort Worth/Dallas area, so that we can win the state House," O'Rourke said.
Cruz sent an "urgent" email noting that Democrats were coming for HD 28 and Texas.
"This is the first step in their attempt to turn Texas BLUE in 2020," he wrote in the Texas Victory 2020 email. "Beto O'Rourke, Joe Biden, and other radical Democrats have set their eyes on HD 28, with the goal of flipping the seat and eventually turning Texas blue."
Republicans won five Tarrant House seats by less than 10 percentage points in 2018 _ Districts 92, 93, 94, 96 and 97.
Krause, who represents the 93rd district, sent a campaign email stating that his district is one of those targeted by O'Rourke. He didn't draw a primary opponent, but drew a challenge from Democrat Lydia Bean.
"Failed presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke and the Texas Democrats have set their sights on flipping HD 93," he wrote. "Yes, that's right. They are bringing their extreme liberal agenda to the district. We cannot let them succeed in turning HD 93 blue."
Even though O'Rourke dropped out of the presidential race, Trump and other candidates continue to mention his name.
At rallies earlier this month, ranging from Miami to Toledo, Trump talked about O'Rourke and his proposals even though the Texan was no longer in the race. He has scoffed at O'Rourke, a Texan, for many things, including for campaigning against oil.
But the name "Beto" is being mentioned in more than campaign speeches.
It's showing up on the ballot.
Six Democrats across the state have added "Beto" to their names on the ballot.
Those candidates and the seats they are seeking: Roberto R. "Beto" Alonzo, Texas Railroad Commissioner; Alberto "Beto" Gonzales, Brooks County Constable; Erik "Beto" Hassan, Harris County Commissioner; H.D. "Beto" Martinez, Jim Hogg County Commissioner; Alberto "Beto" De La Torre, Maverick County Constable; and Eliberto (Beto) Guerra, Willacy County Commissioner.
No candidates on the Republican primary ballot in Texas are using the nickname "Beto."
"The reaction to Beto ... is filtered through partisanship," said Rebecca Deen, chairwoman and associate professor at UT Arlington's political science department. "I think there's a contingent of young progressives in Texas who remain impressed by his ability to beat the odds and expectations in the race against Sen. Cruz and who will remain interested in and persuaded by any appeals he may make on behalf of other candidates.
"Similarly, I think he turned off, or further distanced himself, from Texans with his comment about taking away guns" in the September Democratic presidential debate.
Tarrant has long been considered a statewide bellwether. The percentage of Tarrant voters backing Republicans in presidential elections has matched the statewide results since 2000.
Then in the 2018 battle for the U.S. Senate, Cruz won his reelection bid, but lost Tarrant County by 4,308 votes to O'Rourke.
Tarrant County was named one of "10 counties that will decide the 2020 election" by The Hill in Washington, D.C.
"We know the reality from the 'Beto factor:' He woke up a lot of Democrats," said Rick Barnes, who heads the Tarrant County Republican Party. "What I don't think the Democrats are prepared for is that the 'Beto factor' dramatically woke up Republicans too."
