Beto O'Rourke drops out of presidential race No description found
HOUSTON – Beto O'Rourke has dropped out of the presidential race.
The former U.S. representative from El Paso made the announcement Friday on Twitter, with a longer explanation posted on the website Medium.com.
"My service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee," O'Rourke wrote. "Acknowledging this now is in the best interests of those in the campaign; it is in the best interests of this party as we seek to unify around a nominee; and it is in the best interests of the country."
O'Rourke, a Democrat who represented the 16th Congressional District, was once considered a front-runner in the race to become the party's presidential nominee.
Read O'Rourke's full thank-you letter to his supporters here .
Copyright 2019 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
HPD body cam of Greenspoint check cashing attempted robbery ▶ 0:56
HPD body cam of Greenspoint check cashing attempted robbery
Fa la la la fog! Expect some foggy morning weather through Christmas ▶ 0:47
Fa la la la fog! Expect some foggy morning weather through Christmas
Woman dies in massive apartment fire on Houston's southwest side ▶ 1:16
Woman dies in massive apartment fire on Houston's southwest side
Man armed with knife fatally shot by Baytown police; mother of his children found dead in apartment ▶ 0:55
Man armed with knife fatally shot by Baytown police; mother of his children found dead in apartment
Top stories for December 19 ▶ 2:13
Top stories for December 19
Holiday travel hits a sweeter note as Southwest Airlines worker plays sax at Houston airport ▶ 2:03
Holiday travel hits a sweeter note as Southwest Airlines worker plays sax at Houston airport
Parents fight to save A-rated Sugar Mill Elementary as Fort Bend ISD weighs closures ▶ 0:51
Parents fight to save A-rated Sugar Mill Elementary as Fort Bend ISD weighs closures
Girlfriend identifies Andrew Meismer as victim in fatal stabbing at Baytown high school ▶ 0:53
Girlfriend identifies Andrew Meismer as victim in fatal stabbing at Baytown high school
Houston family says cemetery failed to deliver headstone for nearly three years ▶ 0:39
Houston family says cemetery failed to deliver headstone for nearly three years
Woman survives camel kick during Christmas performance at Houston-area church ▶ 0:54
Woman survives camel kick during Christmas performance at Houston-area church
Holiday travel forecast ▶ 0:41
Holiday travel forecast
Conroe judge disciplined for DUI during military ▶ 0:20
Conroe judge disciplined for DUI during military
Why there are two different days for the start of winter? ▶ 0:50
Why there are two different days for the start of winter?
Students at high school in Baytown gather to honor classmate who died in stabbing in classroom ▶ 1:17
Students at high school in Baytown gather to honor classmate who died in stabbing in classroom
3,500 cases of pertussis reported already this year! ▶ 1:16
3,500 cases of pertussis reported already this year!
Tops stories for Dec. 18 ▶ 1:43
Tops stories for Dec. 18
Camp Mystic works to regain parents trust as it plans to reopen ▶ 1:54
Camp Mystic works to regain parents trust as it plans to reopen
Rapid Fire with Tom Llamas in Houston 🔥 ▶ 2:33
Rapid Fire with Tom Llamas in Houston 🔥
New flood detection system going up at camps in Texas Hill Country ▶ 1:42
New flood detection system going up at camps in Texas Hill Country
Student dies after being stabbed with scissors during fight in classroom at Sterling High School ▶ 0:48
Student dies after being stabbed with scissors during fight in classroom at Sterling High School
Conroe judge told officers to ‘be aware that he is a judge’ during DWI stop ▶ 1:15
Conroe judge told officers to ‘be aware that he is a judge’ during DWI stop
Weak front on the way ▶ 1:03
Weak front on the way
Happy Wednesday! Clouds and showers expected throughout Houston today ▶ 0:49
Happy Wednesday! Clouds and showers expected throughout Houston today
Top stories for Dec. 17 ▶ 2:14
Top stories for Dec. 17
AirBnB shuts down Montrose ‘Grand House’ again after KPRC 2 gets involved ▶ 1:29
AirBnB shuts down Montrose ‘Grand House’ again after KPRC 2 gets involved
Previous photo Next photo