This is a tale of the fall of two Democratic politicians who enjoyed widespread popularity but never managed to take flight. Beto O’Rourke and Stacey Abrams, who are both running Quixotic campaigns for governor in Texas and Georgia, respectively, were believed to be rising stars on the left. These were the people who were going to be instrumental in the effort to introduce shades of purple to red states.
However, it appears that both have become political archetypes of Icarus, and the sun is melting their wax wings in a most devastating fashion. The question is: What happened?
The Rise and Fall of Beto O’Rourke
In 2018, Robert Francis O’Rourke, an Irishman who went by “Beto” seemingly to appeal to Latino voters, became a superstar on the left when he challenged Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) for his seat. He was charismatic, young, and rode skateboards. The candidate managed to position himself as an Obama-esque figure who would give left-leaning Texans hope for change in the Lone Star State.
O’Rourke rode a wave of popularity, receiving millions upon millions of dollars from donors from outside of Texas. At a time when Cruz was not exactly seen in a favorable light by many conservatives in the state, people believed the Irishman had a shot at becoming Texas’ senator. But the Californian war chest was not enough to elevate Beto to victory.
Later, O’Rourke decided to throw his hat into the ring to receive the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination for the 2020 race. This endeavor was even less successful than his bid for the Senate. His effort to replace Gov. Greg Abbott will likely have the same fate, as his opponent leads him by 8.5 points, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average.
The Rise and Fall of Stacey Abrams
Stacey Abrams was also climbing the ranks in 2018, having been chosen to run for governor in Georgia. She became a darling of the left and their hope for doing to the Peach State what they thought they could in Texas. However, her opponent, Brian Kemp, defeated her, crushing Democrats’ hopes once again.
Stacey Abrams (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Unlike Beto, Abrams remained in the spotlight after 2018. Instead of making a run for the presidency, she poured her energy into galvanizing Georgia voters for the 2020 congressional elections. Her efforts paid off when Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock won both of the state’s Senate seats.
After this triumph, Abrams appeared poised to succeed where she had failed in 2018. However, she does not seem to enjoy the clout she possessed four years ago. Kemp is leading her by 5.5 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics. Most noteworthy is the reality that her black support has dropped considerably. Unless something cataclysmic occurs with Kemp’s campaign, she will be defeated once again.
What’s In the Future for These Democrats?
Both Abrams and O’Rourke appear destined for major defeats in But why? Have they simply worn out their welcome, or is the left looking in a different direction?
It is not easy to tell. If Democrats truly wished to oust Gov. Abbott, they could have done much better than pushing a candidate who is anti-gun and out of touch with everyday Texans. Perhaps they believed they could use what was left of Beto’s star power to eke out a victory. Abrams, for her part, seemed poised to continue floating to the top. But she just isn’t getting the support many would have expected.
In the end, perhaps this is just a sign of the times. Voters aren’t enthused about the party lurching ever further to the left. Additionally, Democratic politicians have not performed well while controlling the legislature and the presidency. Their lack of solutions to the problems everyday Americans are facing just could be the overriding factor influencing the fate of these Democratic candidates. Abrams and O’Rourke might be on their way out of the political spotlight after November. But can the party as a whole ever recover?