Beto O’Rourke touts support from ‘lifelong Republican’ mom, but records show she has also backed Democrats

On the campaign trail, Rep. Beto O'Rourke has cast his mother, Melissa O'Rourke, as a lifelong Republican. The Texas Democrat's comments serve a purpose: his Republican mother is the exact sort of voter he'll need to win over in order to defeat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz in the red state and become the first Democrat to win a Senate seat there for the first time since 1988.