Still Bracing for Beto: Cornyn Says O'Rourke May Yet Pivot to Senate Race If 2020 Bid Fizzles

WASHINGTON -- Beto O’Rourke has ruled out another run for the Senate, and as he edges closer to a bid for president, Texas Democrats are still searching for someone to challenge Sen. John Cornyn.But Cornyn himself is not convinced that O’Rourke has given up his Senate aspirations.On Tuesday, he sent an email blast to donors warning of “Beto’s Texas,” hinting that the El Paso Democrat could yet come after him, and asking for help filling a new "Stop Beto Fund."“I don't think it's out of the realm of the possibility that that could happen,” Cornyn said Wednesday when asked about his fund-raising message. “The filing deadline is December the 9th, I believe. So my expectation is that perhaps Beto, perhaps Julian Castro or others who have indicated that they're running for president -- if they're not getting a lot of traction then obviously it's very easy to pivot into the Senate race.”In November, O’Rourke, who served six years in the U.S. House, stunned Texas Republicans by holding Sen. Ted Cruz below 51 percent in a nail-biter contest in which he raised a stunning $80 million, the most of any Senate candidate ever. Democrats haven’t won a statewide race in Texas since 1994 and that was the closest any had come.  Continue reading...