Joe Biden, Beto O’Rourke set to speak at Texas Democratic Party’s convention in June
Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke will speak at the Texas Democratic Party’s 2020 Convention next month.
The party announced the additional speakers Thursday morning, and Biden and O’Rourke are set to address attendees on the convention’s final day on June 6.
Former vice president Biden won Texas’ primary in March, pulling ahead of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. O’Rourke, who gained national attention for his 2018 challenge to U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, dropped out of the presidential race in November and endorsed Biden a day before Super Tuesday.
O’Rourke isn’t the only former presidential candidate on the lineup, with Senators Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren and former HUD Secretary and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro also set to speak.
Other high-profile speakers include U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who was also announced Thursday.
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa and Vice Chair Carla Brailey touted Texas as a battleground state for the 2020 election in a statement Thursday.
“Texas is the biggest battleground state in the country. With Joe Biden at the top of the ticket, Texas Democrats will help him win the White House,” Hinojosa and Brailey said. “This is our moment.”
Due to the novel coronavirus’ outbreak, the party’s convention wil be held virtually from June 1-6. The Texas Republican Party plans to hold its party convention in person from July 16-18 in Houston.
President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign downplayed Biden’s chances of winning Texas come November.
“We wish Joe Biden and Texas Democrats the best of luck in attaining their decades long pipedream of turning Texas blue,” Samantha Cotten, a campaign spokeswoman, said in a statement Thursday. “Texans will see through this staged attempt to win their favor and resoundingly reelect President Trump in November.”
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 9:44 AM.
