BREAKING: Anti-gun, failed presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke announces run for governor of Texas

O'Rourke announced that his run for governor is a response to the failure of the Texas power grid last winter, saying that the people "were abandoned" by their leaders, who he feels do not have the trust of citizens.

In his campaign ad, O'Rourke slams Texas' pro-life law that prohibits abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Challenges to this law are already moving through the court system. He also takes issue with Texas' efforts to legalize permitless gun carry, saying that citizens are more concerned with Medicaid expansions and legalizing marijuana.

It was in 2019 that O'Rourke said, during his presidential run, "Hell yes, we're gonna take your AR-15." O'Rourke failed in that bid.

O'Rourke is a former congressman serving El Paso, and lost in his campaign to take Ted Cruz's senate seat in 2018. That race, however, gained national attention, and that attention, along with the $80 million he raised in that effort, spurred him to seek the presidency.

Actor Matthew McConaughey is also reportedly considering a run for governor of Texas. McConaughey noted that he had concerns about COVID vaccine mandates for children.