Two candidates for Texas' United States Senate seat are trading early jabs ahead of a November showdown.
Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican incumbent, and Beto O'Rourke, an El Paso Democrat and nominee for the Democratic Party, have been at odds since O'Rourke won his party's nomination earlier this month. Immediately following his victory, Cruz released a radio ad set to the tune of "If You're Gonna Play in Texas," which characterized O'Rourke as a "liberal" who wants to take Texas' guns and promote open borders. O'Rourke fired back with an article which he said disproved Cruz's claims, while also releasing a photo showing him as a toddler, wearing a shirt that said "Beto."
Later that week, O'Rourke appeared on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," where he agreed with Maher's characterization of Cruz as a "asshole."
“That’s true,” O’Rourke said in response to Maher's statement about Cruz.
Cruz and O'Rourke will face off in November's general election. The Libertarian and Green Parties will announce their nominees for the seat later this year.
