Two Democratic Party darlings — Robert ‘Beto’ O’Rourke in Texas and Stacey Abrams in Georgia — both lost their respective gubernatorial races on Tuesday in what became only the latest electoral defeat, leading many to mock the two of them on social media.
One user even teased them for being “amazing at setting Democrat money on fire,” as the New York Post noted.
O’Rourke’s drubbing by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who won a third term, is the third loss in a row for the Democratic Party’s one-time future hope and presidential contender.
“Senator O’Rourke. No. President O’Rourke. Nope. Governor O’Rourke. Nah,” tweeted Fox and Friends co-host Will Cain, one of many questioning: “What’s next for Beto.”
Senator O’Rourke. No.
President O’Rourke. Nope.
Governor O’Rourke. Nah.What’s next for Beto?
— Will Cain (@willcain) November 9, 2022
Several other users mocked O’Rourke for the amount of money his several losses have burned through.
“Between his Senate and Governor’s races, Beto has wasted roughly $140 million in Democrat fundraising… Congrats!,” comedian Tim Young tweeted.
Between his Senate and Governor’s races, Beto has wasted roughly $140 million in Democrat fundraising… Congrats!
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) November 9, 2022
Blogger Mike Cernovich quipped: “We need to keep Beto running, man burns money faster than California loses electricity.”
We need to keep Beto running, man burns money faster than California loses electricity.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) November 9, 2022
A Twitter user going by the name of Sean Kelly sent a “thank you” to the Texas Dem “for setting $200 million of Democrat money on fire for your personal ambition instead of letting that money go toward competitive races!”
Thank you @BetoORourke for setting $200 million of Democrat money on fire for your personal ambition instead of letting that money go toward competitive races! 🙏
— Sean Kelly 🐬 (@skenzyme) November 8, 2022
Abrams was equally mocked online as well for burning through Dem cash.
“And there goes another $105m in Dem money up in smoke,” journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted after she lost. “Maybe liberals online can be told to direct their cash to competitive races rather than ones based on the fun social media stars always on The View? Wonder how rich Dem consultants got in this race?”
And there goes another $105m in Dem money up in smoke. Maybe liberals online can be told to direct their cash to competitive races rather than ones based on the fun social media stars always on The View? Wonder how rich Dem consultants got in this race?https://t.co/eF6Kw8CxuV
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 9, 2022
In a subsequent post, Greenwald openly wondered “how much money Democratic voters waste on social media stars in clearly unwinnable races,” noting that the party spent “$75m on Beto. $70m on [Val] Demings. $11m on” Marcus Flowers’ unsuccessful bid to defeat Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“At least Dem consultants got new boats,” Greenwald added mockingly.
It’s amazing how much money Democratic voters waste on social media stars in clearly unwinnable races, doing nothing but enriching Dem consultants.
$75m on Beto. $70m on Demings. $11m on MTG’s opponent (someone named Marcus Flowers).
At least Dem consultants got new boats.⛵️ https://t.co/xdidOkBUBs
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 9, 2022
That said, the GOP clearly did not perform up to expectations. As of Wednesday morning, control of neither the House nor the Senate had been decided.
