Beto O’Rourke To Challenge Ted Cruz in 2018

After months of speculation, U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke will reportedly announce on Friday that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Ted Cruz according to the Houston Chronicle.

O'Rourke will make the announcement on Friday in his hometown of El Paso. Speculation began Thursday morning after the O'Rourke campaign emailed supporters that a big announcement was being planned for Friday. The Houston Chronicle then reported that the announcement was indeed about the Senate race and that O'Rourke, who is a Democrat, would enter the race.

O'Rourke's chances aren't great against Cruz as no Democrat has been elected statewide since 1994. It also possible that O'Rourke won't be the only Democrat running. According to the Texas Tribune, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio is weighing a run himself.

O'Rourke is a 3-term Congressman who has supported term limits in the past. He gained some national headlines during a "Bipartisan Roadtrip" with Rep. Will Hurd earlier this month.