Though Mr. O’Rourke stayed neutral, Ms. Jones drew high-wattage help in the race, including from prominent Texas Democrats like Julián Castro, the former housing secretary who is running for president, and Wendy Davis, the former candidate for governor and abortion-rights activist. Asked if Mr. O’Rourke had a special responsibility to support a female candidate of color in this Democratic moment, Ms. Davis sounded almost anguished. “It’s really hard to say,” she said, adding that she did not mean to “back-seat drive” a friend’s decision-making. Beto’s not me, and I’m not Beto.”Mr. O’Rourke’s very presence as a would-be presidential contender for 2020 is an issue of heated debate within the party. (Mr. O’Rourke was widely mocked recently after turning the camera on his own dental appointment.)

Source: New York Times January 19, 2019 15:38 UTC