That is not to say that Cruz doesn’t arrive to this debate with a host of policy positions that we are deeply devoted to. On economic policy, for example, we supported the president’s tax cuts that Cruz voted for. And we stand with Cruz in looking to remove federal regulations that stifle job creation. Removing barriers to American employment and prosperity is itself an act of compassion.
We were also moved by Cruz when he told us about meeting with the students from Santa Fe High School after the shooting there. In those comments he listed a number of ideas on how to curb such attacks, including an idea we supported this year to create a unit in the Justice Department to find holes in the background system before they are exploited by the next shooter. He also supports political dissidents who push for human freedom abroad, support that we share as we look for ways to ground American foreign policy in a set of guiding principles that will rally others to our cause.
But there is a set of principles we would like to restore in domestic politics that starts with building political bridges. Before he became Cruz’s challenger, O’Rourke was a congressman best known outside of El Paso for road-tripping across Texas and up to Washington with Republican Congressman Will Hurd. The two had serious differences, but their camaraderie and their willingness to discuss compromise were a brief antidote to the political poison seeping out of the capital.
O’Rourke largely framed his campaign around the spirit of the road trip with just a few notable exceptions. Those include saying he would vote to impeach the president, thereby putting himself in favor of what would be one of the most divisive fights in politics. At the end of the campaign he also broke with his approach to repeat an insulting nickname Donald Trump once slapped on Cruz. These are blemishes on his campaign.
O’Rourke is no conservative Democrat. His positions on taxes, immigration, the judiciary, federal regulations and health care are further to the left than many statewide voters would like. But he is shattering expectations in a state where Democrats haven’t won a statewide race in decades. The dollars he has raised and the number of supporters he has garnered are evidence of an embedded hunger in this state and country for a campaign that’s based on unifying communities.
In the divisive times in which we live, we believe that tone and leadership are the top issues with which to judge these candidates' tenures in office. So we’re placing a bet on Beto.
Neal Dikeman, a Libertarian, is also a candidate for U.S. Senate.
Part of a series of Dallas Morning News recommendations in the Nov. 6 general election.
Voter Guide: Compare candidates' answers to questionnaires tailored to their contest.
Recommendations: Get summaries and links to the full editorials for all of our recommendations for the Nov. 6, 2018, general election.
Forgetfultiger on October 25th, 2018 at 12:51 UTC »
Don't just vote Texans, fill your car with friends like it's 10:50am and you need honey butter chicken biscuits.
Edited correct time
swingadmin on October 25th, 2018 at 12:15 UTC »
DallasNews has traditionally leaned very Republican in all US and Texas House races. They still endorse Pete Sessions (R). It is unusual for them to back a Democratic candidate against a Republican incumbent. It could have an impact.
dallasmorningnews on October 25th, 2018 at 11:58 UTC »
From The Dallas Morning News' Editorial Board:
The pivotal issue before our country is public leadership, and here we believe O’Rourke’s tone aligns with what is required now. This inclusive and hopeful tone, along with O’Rourke’s approach of starting with shared principles and working toward solutions, offset any policy differences we have with him. Leadership is more than policy, and whether we are addressing the very real challenges before us now turns on our ability to find points of agreement.