He thanked the staff at Methodist Hospital. “The excellent team there – from the custodians to the nurses and doctors – gave me excellent care and attention, including IV antibiotics and rest,” O’Rourke said. The development comes at a critical point in the Texas gubernatorial race as O’Rourke tries to narrow Abbott’s lead in the contest. The former congressman first rose to national stardom with a narrow 2018 Senate campaign against GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. But his failed 2020 Democratic presidential bid left his national brand tarnished in the eyes of many within the party. And Republicans argue that many of the positions he has taken during that time, including support for mandatory buybacks of assault weapons, will hurt him in Texas. Still, O’Rourke remains popular among Democrats in his home state — building a following in Texas far larger than any Democrat in a generation. In between campaigns, he remained active, campaigning for state congressional candidates and activating his volunteers when the state’s power grid failed in early 2021. This story has been updated with additional information. CNN’s Eric Bradner contributed to this report.
