McALLEN — U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, will spend a weekend in the Rio Grande Valley during his month-long road trip across Texas in August as he tries to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
O’Rourke will hold a town hall in McAllen on Aug. 18, which his campaign dubbed “Picnic con Beto.” That night, O’Rourke will be in Brownsville for a town hall his campaign called “Musica con Beto.”
The following day, O’Rourke will knock on doors in Brownsville before meeting with Harlingen community leaders. This is all part of O’Rourke’s 34-day road trip that will feature nearly 100 events in more than 50 towns.
Neither Cruz nor O’Rourke visited the Valley in July, and a Cruz spokesperson said there’s nothing currently on the schedule for the Rio Grande Valley yet. The only scheduled event on Cruz’s calendar is in Dallas this weekend. Beyond that, the campaign hasn’t made any announcements into August.
The House of Representatives is on recess all that month while the Senate has a one-week break. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in June decided to cancel his chamber’s August recess to deal with the legislative backlog he blamed on the Democratic minority. Senators will have the first week of the month off before returning to Washington. Cruz encouraged McConnell to cancel the recess, and was pleased with the result.
“We must not waste one minute of one day while we work to fulfill the promises we made to the American people,” Cruz said in a prepared statement in June when the cancellation was announced. He cited GOP achievements over the previous year, such as the tax overhaul bill and judicial confirmations. “By working through August, we will continue to fight for more policy achievements and to deliver for the American people who elected us.”
Saturday, Aug. 18
• Laredo block walk
• McAllen town hall “Picnic con Beto”
• Brownsville town hall “Musica con Beto”
Sunday, Aug. 19
• Brownsville block walk
• Harlingen community leaders meeting
