O’Rourke Formally Announces Congressional Run

Surrounded by his children and his political allies, former El Paso City Councilman Beto O’Rourke officially announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress on Wednesday evening.

O’Rourke will challenge longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes in the March 2012 Democratic primary.

The former city representative kicked off his campaign at Tablas, a restaurant in the trendy Union Plaza District of downtown El Paso.

El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar introduced O’Rourke at the event and credited him, in part, for the push to revitalize downtown during his time in city office.

Current City Council Representative Susie Byrd was also in attendance.

During his speech, O’Rourke called Washington “broken” and pushed for a resolution to the country’s debt crisis.

“I think what El Paso wants is a campaign that’s about ideas, about policies, and is a competition to see who can offer the best vision for El Paso,” he told ABC-7.

In a statement to ABC-7 earlier this month, Reyes said he stands by his record in Washington.

“During my time in office,” he said, “I have worked tirelessly to foster economic growth, strengthen education, and protect vital programs and services that are important to El Paso.”

UTEP political science professor Dr. Gregory Rocha told ABC-7 that O’Rourke is a legitimate candidate.

“Having Beto O’Rourke, an ex-member of City Council from a prominent family here locally, is going to be the first serious challenge (Reyes) has had, perhaps ever,” Rocha said.