New location for Friday town hall for Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat challenging Ted Cruz

U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke is reaching out to North Texans this week.

O’Rourke, who is challenging Republican Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate next year, will hold a town hall meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Organizers initially planned for the gathering to be in Benbrook, but on Friday switched the location to the Will Rogers Memorial Center, Amon G. Carter Exhibits Hall, Stagecoach Room, 3400 Burnett-Tandy Drive in Fort Worth.

This is the second time in a matter of months that the El Paso Democrat has made his way here to rally support for next year’s election.

“Join us to hear directly from Beto about his positive vision for our state and what grassroots supporters like you are doing to power it,” according to an invitation to the event. “You’ll get to meet other supporters in your area, talk about why you support our campaign and how we can continue to work together to build the organization that will change Texas.”

Organizers ask that anyone wanting to attend the event sign up online at bit.ly/2ftMEgJ.

O’Rourke, a punk rocker turned congressman, last held a meet and greet in April at a Fort Worth brewing company. He continues traveling the state, meeting with Texans, trying to drum up support for his long-shot bid.

He hopes to make inroads into North Texas, which has been a mainstay of support for Cruz ever since local GOP voters helped him defeat then-Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a 2012 summer runoff election, propelling him into office in the first place.

Cruz has long appealed to Tea Party Republicans and others looking for anti-establishment candidates.

The most recent campaign finance reports show O’Rourke out raised Cruz, $2.1 million to $1.6 million, between April and June.

Cruz — a former presidential candidate whose strongholds have long included the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex — was quick to point out that he has much more in the bank than his Democratic challenger.

This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 8:17 AM with the headline "New location for Friday town hall for Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat challenging Ted Cruz."