- On March 14, former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke announced he’d be running in the 2020 presidential race.
- The three-term Democratic congressman from El Paso broke fundraising records and became a national sensation in the fall of 2018 when he came within three points of defeating Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas, a traditionally red state.
- In a show of support, one artist created a crop circle-like artwork of O’Rourke’s face in Austin, Texas.
The 2020 presidential race is heating up, with 15 Democrats already announcing their candidacy.
Among the most anticipated announcements was that of Democrat and former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who exploded onto the national scene running in the Senate race against incumbent Senator Ted Cruz in November 2018. O’Rourke came within three points of defeating Cruz in a traditionally red state.
The former Congressman announced he’d be running for president in the 2020 race on March 14, having already raised $6.1 million.
While Texas news station CBS 7 reported mixed reactions about O’Rourke’s announcement, one Kansas-based artist has come out in support. Stan Herd, who’s been creating crop circle-like art, or earthworks, as he calls them, for decades, made a two acre-sized piece in O’Rourke’s likeness on a recent trip to Texas.
The profile of O'Rourke's face, with the caption "Beto 2020" below it, can be found near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The artist shared the image on his Facebook page. Its caption reads, "The completed two acre 'Beto Earthwork' on Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Texas."
"We're trying to tell the story of this amazing man from Texas who's making a difference in the national climate," Herd told local ABC news affiliate ABC KVUE.
"I choose carefully what I want to lend my time, resources, and artistic ability to," Herd told INSIDER. "As a lifelong Democrat, I made the decision to get behind this candidate because of his vision, message, and populist appeal."
Herd told INSIDER the image took two weeks to make, and KVUE reports that it cost more than $10,000. Herd says it will be up for a little over a week.
Read more:
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- Beto O'Rourke's logo for his 2020 presidential run is drawing comparisons to iconic Texas chain Whataburger
- Beto O'Rourke announces massive $6.1 million fundraising haul in first day of campaign, dwarfing the rest of the 2020 field