Beto O'Rourke is a great candidate, and he has show the way for other Democrats, if they are smart enough and willing to do the hard work of bringing Texas into the modern age politically.

I was Born in Houston, Texas and have lived here for the bulk of my life.  Grew up in Alvin. Went into the Military for 2 years.  Lived in Houston and then Austin -  where I found my heart city wise, I Love Austin.  It has grown too much but since I moved there when I was in my 20's and lived there most of my Adult life, until it got too big and I moved back home to Alvin and Houston.

Texas is a great place to live in all areas except Politics.  But I lived in Liberal Austin so I was fine.

It did not surprise me at all that Beto did so well.  He had a liberal message, but then most Texans are not conservative or liberals in the absolute sense.  I am sure that there was some hanky panky in a race that close.  Republicans are going to have to learn that Texas is not going to remain that sleepy state where small groups corrupt politicians can wield their way.   No single party can survive in Texas and win races unless they are active I and address the issues of all the people.

https://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2010/08/today-in-texas-history-lbjs-stolen-senate-victory/

People call Texas a non-voting state, and I suppose it is.  One of the reasons might be the history of corruption in the election process.  Duval county and the 1948 election was a saga that I cut my political teeth on.  I began as a Republican, but as I went to Vietnam and became more informed about issues and process, I became a Democrat.  In a Two Party system, you do not have a lot of choice.

Now I am an independent that usually votes Democrat because they are the lesser of the evils.   That is no way to vote, but it is the best I have found.  Parties are not the best measure of who a person is Politically.  I declare myself an unrepentant Liberal.  Reagan made Liberal  a bad word and the Democratic Party ran and hid.  They began to call themselves anything but Liberal.  I never ran from my liberalism. The Democrats adopted "Progressive" which I have no idea what it means.  Progressive means to me moving very slowly and I guess that is pretty accurate because the party has been moving slowly, very slowly, so slowly that one can not really tell where they are going.

I hope that Beto can raise his family and then get back in politics.  Beto did what no other politician has done.  He went every where in the state and talked to the people. Standard Democrats before this election did not even do that in the Cities.  The Democratic Party needs Beto to reshape them in to people who engage with real people where they live.  The Democrats are not too liberal, they are too withdrawn and lazy.

Now that Obama has opened the way for Healthcare and other more liberal positions the Democratic Party can distinguish themselves from Republicans.

To be successful in politics you need to have a fire in your gut.  When I first saw Beto, I said this is my guy,  I sent him money and supported him every way I could.  It has been a long time since I have had a real enthusiasm for a candidate. This year I had two, Beto and a local candidate for State Representative, Adam Milasincic.   I hope this change in the Democratic Party can continue.