Beto O’Rourke lands gig at Texas State
Former Democratic presidential primary candidate Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke will teach political science at Texas State University.
O’Rourke “approached people in the administration” asking for a position, and the school is “very happy to have him.”
Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke, former Democratic congressman and 2020 presidential contender, has landed a teaching position at Texas State University.
O’Rourke will teach Texas politics through a synchronous online class starting in the spring of 2021, according to Texas State student paper The University Star.
Texas State political science chair said that O’Rourke “originally approached people in the administration... and expressed an interest in teaching.” Grasso was “thrilled,” as O’Rourke has a “unique take on things with his experience as a congressman and as [a] senatorial candidate and even a presidential candidate.”
The university is “very happy to have him.” According to Texas State spokesman Jayme Blaschke, O’Rourke will tentatively earn $7,500 for the class.
O’Rourke served in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, representing Texas’s 16th congressional district. In 2018, he was defeated by Ted Cruz in a race for the United States Senate.
He also ran for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, exiting the race before the primary elections.
O’Rourke drew controversy during the third Democratic primary debate in 2019, during which he explained his gun confiscation proposal.
“Hell yes we are going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” declared O’Rourke. “We are not going to allow it to be used against fellow Americans anymore.”
He also drew mockery for his choppy use of Spanish during a June 2019 primary debate, which some considered to be pandering.
