Raucous concession speech

Beto O’Rourke drops F-bomb in raucous concession speech

By IAN KULLGREN

Beto O’Rourke didn’t go quietly.

“I fuckiing love you guys!” the Texas Democrat said as he conceded to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz before a raucous crowd of supporters.

It was an unusual vulgarity to hear from a member of Congress on live television. MSNBC anchor Brian Williams hastily apologized to viewers.

“Sorry about the f-bomb,” Williams said. “We have no control over what’s in the concession speeches of various candidates around the country.”

Even in defeat, the punk-rocker turned politician basked in his newfound celebrity. From the moment he stepped onto a concert stage in a minor-league baseball stadium — complete with ambient lighting, a drum set, a fog machine and a handheld microphone — O’Rourke put on a show for fans.

“El Paso, I love you so much,” he said, hoisting his fist in the air to loud cheers.

It was a hard day’s night for O‘Rourke, edged by Cruz in a closely watched race that failed to advance Democrats‘ goal of taking the Senate. But in the process, he gained a level of name recognition that’s sure to fuel speculation about a run in 2020. Running on a left-of-center campaign focused on health care, immigration and education, he cemented his status as a liberal darling — and his undoing in the deep-red Texas.

O’Rourke thanked supporters for helping him raise $70 million by mid-October, mostly from small donations.

He also hinted at the future.

“We will see you out there,“ O‘Rourke said. “Down the road.”