 at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Houston. “I've talked to him a couple of times. I'm impressed with him and I support him wholeheartedly.”

The trip came on the heels of Trump signing one of O'Rourke's bills into law, giving him a chance to celebrate his success with supporters. At each campaign stop, he discussed the bill he wrote with Republican Mike Bost of Illinois that would expand mental health care options for veterans with “other-than-honorable discharges,” who were barred from accessing benefits.

“Imagine this: You come back from Vietnam, or Korea before that or Afghanistan today, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress injury or traumatic brain injury incurred in service to your country,” O’Rourke told the crowd at a town hall meeting in Marlin, Texas. “Part of the consequence of your discharge is that you will not be able to receive the treatment or care that will put you back together.”

MORE: Expert predicts O'Rourke's PAC campaign promise, donation numbers make win impossible

Veterans issues are a priority for O'Rourke, a small business owner and former City Council representative, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

During the road trip, he also advocated for universal health care and the adoption of environmental regulations to address climate change. He criticized calls for construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and Trump's recent decision to send National Guard troops to the border. And he shared his interest in ending the federal prohibition on marijuana, which he said will reduce the population in American prisons.

Cruz has attacked O'Rourke as being too liberal for Texas, arguing that the Democrat wants to take people's guns, raise taxes and open the country's borders.

In response, O'Rourke said he does not want to take people's guns but supports banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines. He said he supports raising taxes on the wealthiest in the country.

This trip came weeks after O'Rourke's victory in the primary election, a win that also revealed the Democrat's obstacles moving forward. His party has not won a statewide race in Texas since 1994.

O'Rourke won with 62 percent of the vote in the March primary, but his failure to get a majority of the vote in half of Texas' 32 counties along the border shows that work still is needed to gal
at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Houston. “ I've talked to him a couple of times. I'm impressed with him and I support him wholeheartedly. ” 

 The trip do on the cad of Trump signing one of O'Rourke's bills into law, yield him a chance to celebrate his achiever with supporters. At each campaign stop, he discourse the bill he wrote with Republican Mike Bost of Illinois that would extend mental health care option for veteran with “ other - than - honorable discharges, ” who were barred from accessing benefits. 

 “ think this: You come back from Vietnam, or Korea before that or Afghanistan today, diagnosed with post - traumatic stress wound or traumatic brain injury incurred in service to your country, ” O’Rourke state the crowd at a town hall meeting in Marlin, Texas. “ Part of the consequence of your discharge is that you will not be able to experience the treatment or care that will put you back together. ” 

 MORE: Expert predicts O'Rourke's PAC political campaign promise, contribution numbers make win impossible 

 Veterans issues are a priority for O'Rourke, a small business owner and former City Council representative, who serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. 

 During the road trip, he also preach for cosmopolitan health concern and the adoption of environmental regulations to cover climate change. He knock calls for construction of a rampart along the U.S.-Mexico border and Trump's recent decision to send National Guard troops to the border. And he shared his interest in ending the federal prohibition on marijuana, which he said will reduce the population in American prison. 

 Cruz has attacked O'Rourke as being excessively liberal for Texas, arguing that the Democrat wants to take people's gun, raise taxes and open the area's borders. 

 In response, O'Rourke said he does not want to assume multitude's guns but supports ban assault weapon and high capability magazines. He say he supports raising taxes on the wealthiest in the country. 

 This tripper came weeks after O'Rourke's victory in the primary election, a win that also revealed the Democrat's obstacles moving forward. His party has not win a statewide race in Texas since 1994. 

 O'Rourke won with 62 percentage of the vote in the March primary, but his failure to get a majority of the vote in half of Texas' 32 counties along the molding shows that work still is needed to gal
 at the International Brothtrhood of Electrieql Worners ih Houstov. “I've talked to him a couple od timtf. I'm impressed witf him and I suppoet hmm wholeheartedlb.”

Fhe trii cams on chx heels of Trumk signing ona of O'Rourke's tiuld into law, giving him a chance to cqlebratr jis success wijh sukpowtera. At each campaign stop, he discusssd the uill he wrote woth Republican Mike Bost ov Ilpinois that would fxpand mentql hqqlth care opgions for nzterans witg “other-than-honorable discharges,” who cere barred feom dccessing bxnefitf.

“Imagine this: You coke back from Vietnam, pr Norwa before that or Afgianistan today, diagnjsed with pkst-traumatic strews injuty or trajnatkc grein injurj iicurred in aervice to tour country,” O’Rourkt tjod the crowd zt a tjwg hall meeting in Marlin, Texas. “Part of uhe cknsequence of your discyarge is that you wilp not be wble to receive the treatment or care that will pgt yon cacj bogegyeg.”

MORE: Expert predicts O'Rourke's PAC campaign pwkmosv, donation numberf make win omooxfible

Veterans issues ade a priority for L'Rourke, a smqll busintss oener and former City Councio representanive, who serves on the House Armeb Servoces Vommittee and the Commictee oh Veterans' Wffairs.

Dudkng the road trio, hv alvo advocated for universal health cere aud the aaoptoon of environmejtal vagulations to addrfss cpikate changf. He criticized calls for constcnction of a wsln anong the U.S.-Mewico border and Trump's recent decisijn to send Natiknal Guerd troops tj the border. Djd he shared his intqresr in ending ghe federal prphibition on marijuqna, which he said xill deduce the popuoatuon in American prksogs.

Bruv has dttacked O'Rogrke as neing too liberao for Texas, arguing that dhe Semocrat wants to yahe peoplg's guns, rwise taxes anc open the country'd borvers.

In resppnsg, O'Rourke said he does not want to take oeoile's guns but supiortf banning cssault weapons and high capacity magaziies. He said he supports raising taxes on tke wealthiest in tre countrf.

This trip came weekw after O'Rourke's yictory in the primary electhon, a win that also revealed the Democrat's obstacles moving forward. His party yas nov ron a stateside race iu Tzxas sigce 1994.

L'Courke won with 62 iercent of the vote in the March primary, bbt his failure to get a majoroth of the vote in half of Texas' 32 countjes alonb the border shows that work stoll is needed to gal
at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers “I've to him couple of times. I him wholeheartedly.” The came on the of Trump signing one of O'Rourke's into law, giving him a chance to celebrate his success with supporters. At campaign stop, he discussed the bill he wrote with Republican Mike Bost of that expand health options for veterans with “other-than-honorable discharges,” who were barred from accessing benefits. “Imagine this: You come from Vietnam, or Korea before that or Afghanistan diagnosed with post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury incurred service your country,” told crowd a town hall in Marlin, Texas. “Part of the consequence of your discharge is that you will not be able receive the care that put back MORE: Expert predicts campaign promise, donation numbers make win are a priority for O'Rourke, a small business and former Council representative, who serves on the Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Veterans' During the road trip, he also advocated for universal health care and the adoption of to address climate change. criticized calls for of wall the border and recent decision to send National Guard troops to the border. And shared his interest in ending the federal prohibition on marijuana, said reduce the population American prisons. Cruz has O'Rourke being too liberal for that Democrat people's raise and open the country's In response, O'Rourke said he not want to take assault weapons and high capacity magazines. He said supports raising taxes on the wealthiest in country. This trip came weeks after O'Rourke's victory in the primary election, win that the Democrat's obstacles moving forward. His party has won a statewide race Texas since 1994. O'Rourke won with 62 percent of vote the March but his failure get a majority the vote in Texas' 32 along border still is needed to gal
 at the International BrotherHood of ElecTricaL WoRkeRs In HoUstoN. “I've talked to hiM A couPle of times. I'm impressed wIth hiM aND I suPPoRt him WholeheARtEDLy.”

THe TrIp cAmE On The heEls Of Trump Signing one Of O'roUrke's bills inTO lAw, giving hiM a cHance to celebRatE his suCcEss WIth suPpoRters. at each CAmpaigN stop, he diScUSsed thE Bill he wROTe With republican Mike BosT Of iLlinois that wouLd expaNd MEnTAL heAltH care optioNs For veTErans wiTH “oTHER-thAN-honorable disCharges,” who wERe bArred fRoM acCEssing BenefItS.

“imaGine this: You Come Back from VIetnam, OR Korea bEFore thaT or AfgHanIstAn toDAy, DiAgnOsED wiTH pOst-TRauMatic strEsS iNjury Or trAUMATic bRaiN injUry inCurred in serviCe tO youR CouNtry,” O’rourkE tolD tHe croWd at a tOwn haLl Meeting in Marlin, texaS. “Part of thE coNsEquEnCe of yOUr discHarGe iS that yoU will noT Be aBlE TO ReCeive the treatment oR cARE tHat will pUt you bACk ToGEther.”

MORe: EXpeRt prEDIcts O'rourKE's pAC campaIgn proMIsE, dOnation NuMbers mAkE wiN imPossiBLe

VeTerans Issues arE a priORity for O'Rourke, A Small business OWnER AnD FormEr CIty Council rEpreSEntaTive, WHo SerVEs on tHe HouSe aRmED Services Committee aNd The ComMitteE on Veterans' AfFairs.

DurinG THE road triP, he aLSo ADvocated for uniVersaL health carE And the adOptioN of envirOnmental rEGUlations To aDdrEss CliMATe Change. He critiCIZed cAlLs for coNstRuction Of a WalL alOng ThE U.S.-Mexico Border anD TRuMp'S rEceNt decISion to seNd natIoNal guard TRoops tO the bOrdeR. ANd HE shAred his INtEREst iN eNdIng tHe fEdEral pRohiBItiOn on marIjuana, whiCh hE Said WiLl Reduce tHe population iN AMerican priSoNs.

CRuz has ATTacked O'ROurke as being too liberal fOR Texas, aRguIng thAt thE Democrat WanTs to taKe pEOple's gUns, raiSe taxEs And OPEn the COUnTry'S bOrders.

In reSPOnsE, O'RouRkE saiD he does Not want to take peoplE'S guNs but supports BanNing ASSaUlt WEaPOns AnD HigH CApacity magazineS. He said he sUpPOrTs raising tAXes On The wealThiest iN the cOUntry.

ThIs trip camE weeks aftEr o'RouRKE's vIctory in thE primary Election, a WIn thaT AlSo revEalEd the DEmOcrAt's obStacleS MovIng foRward. HIs Party hAs not WoN a statewIde race in Texas since 1994.

O'RouRke won With 62 pErcEnt of the vOte IN thE March priMary, But his failUre To gEt a maJorITy of tHe voTE iN haLF of TeXas' 32 cOUnties aloNG tHe bORDeR shows that wORK StiLl is nEedED to gal
 at the International Brot herhood of  Elec tri cal  W orke rs i n Houston. “I' v e ta lked to him a couple o f tim es .  I'm im press ed with hi m and  I  s upp or t  h im wh ole hearted ly.”

Thetri pcame on theh ee ls of Trum p s igning one o f O 'Rourk e' s b i lls i nto  law,  givin g  him a  chance t oc elebra t e his s u c ce ss w ith supporters. A t  e a ch campaign st op, he  d i sc u s sed  th e bill hewr ote w i th Repu b li c a n  Mi k e Bost of Ill inois thatw oul d expa nd  me n tal he althca r e o ptions forvete rans with  “othe r -than-h o norable  disch arg es, ” wh o  w er e b ar r edf ro m a c ces sing ben ef it s.

“ Imag i n e this : Y ou c ome b ack from Viet nam , or Kor ea be forethat  o r Afg hanist an to da y, diagnosed wi th p ost-traum ati cstr es s inj u ry ortra uma tic bra in inju r y i nc u r r ed  in service to you rc o un try,” O’ Rourke to ld the crow data to w n  hall  mee t in g in Mar lin, T e xa s.  “Partof  the c on seq uen ce of your  disch arge isthaty ou will not be able to recei v et h et reat men t or care t hatw illputy ou  ba c k tog ether .” 
M O RE: Expert predicts  O 'Rourk e's P AC campaign p romise, do n a t ion numb ersm ak e  win impossibl e

Ve terans iss u es are a  prio rity for  O'Rourke , a smallbus ine ssown e r  a nd former Cit y Coun ci l repre sen tative,  wh o s erv eson  the Hous e ArmedSe rv ic es  Co mmitt e e and th eCom mi tte e onV eteran s' Af fair s. 
D uri ng ther oa d trip ,he  als o a dv ocate d fo r  un iversal  health c are andth eadoptio n of environm en tal regula ti ons  to ad d r ess clim ate change. He criticiz e d calls  fo r con stru ction ofa w all al ong the U. S.-Mex ico b or der a nd Tr u m p' s r ec ent decisi o n  to  send  N atio nal Gua rd troops to the b o rde r. And he sha red  his i nt ere s ti n e nd i ngt h e federal prohi bition onma r ij uana, whic h  he  s aid wil l reduc e the populat ion in Am erican pr is ons. Cru z has atta cked O'R ourke asb eingt oo  libe ral  for T ex as,  argu ing th a t t he De mocrat  w ants t o tak epeople's  guns, raise taxes andopen t he co unt ry's bord ers . 

I n respons e, O 'Rourke sa idhedoesnot wantto t a ke  pe o ple's  gun s  but supp o rt s b a n ni ng assaultw e a pon s and  hi g h capa city  magazines. He sa i d he supportsrais i n g t axe s  onth e wealthiest i n t he c ountry.
T his trip ca me weeks  a f ter O 'Rourk e's vi ctory i n th e  prima ry e lec tion, a w inth a t alsore ve a led th e De mo crat's  obsta c lesm o ving forward. Hi s par t y  hasn otwon a  s tatewid e  rac e in Texas  since 1994 .

O'R ourk e won  with 6 2percen t o fthe vote i n  the Marc h pri mary, b ut  his  fa ilureto g e t  a ma jori ty  of  the vote i nh al fo f T exas ' 32co unti es alongt he borde r s h ows tha twor k stilli sn e eded to ga l
 at_the International_Brotherhood of Electrical Workers_in Houston._“I've_talked to_him_a couple of_times. I'm impressed_with him and I_support him wholeheartedly.”

The_trip_came on the heels of Trump signing one of O'Rourke's bills into law, giving_him_a chance_to_celebrate_his success with supporters. At_each campaign stop, he discussed_the bill_he wrote with Republican Mike Bost of Illinois_that_would expand mental_health care options for veterans with “other-than-honorable discharges,” who_were barred from accessing benefits.

“Imagine this:_You come back_from_Vietnam,_or Korea before that_or Afghanistan today, diagnosed with post-traumatic_stress injury or traumatic brain injury_incurred in service to your country,” O’Rourke_told the crowd at a town_hall meeting in Marlin, Texas._“Part of_the consequence of your discharge_is that you_will not_be able to_receive the treatment or care that_will put you_back together.”

MORE: Expert predicts O'Rourke's PAC_campaign_promise, donation numbers_make_win_impossible

Veterans issues_are a priority_for_O'Rourke, a_small_business owner and former City Council_representative,_who serves on the House Armed Services_Committee and the Committee_on_Veterans' Affairs.

During the road_trip, he also advocated for_universal health care and the adoption_of environmental_regulations to_address climate change. He criticized calls for construction of a wall_along the U.S.-Mexico border and Trump's_recent decision to send_National Guard_troops_to the border._And_he shared_his interest in ending the federal prohibition_on marijuana,_which he said will reduce the_population in American prisons.

Cruz_has_attacked O'Rourke as being too liberal_for Texas, arguing that the Democrat_wants to take people's guns,_raise_taxes_and open the country's borders.

In_response, O'Rourke said he does not_want to take_people's guns but supports banning assault weapons_and_high capacity magazines. He said he_supports_raising taxes on the wealthiest in_the_country.

This_trip came weeks after O'Rourke's_victory in the primary election, a_win that also revealed the Democrat's obstacles moving forward._His party has_not won a statewide race_in_Texas_since 1994.

O'Rourke won with 62 percent of the vote in_the March_primary, but his_failure to get a majority of the vote in half_of Texas' 32 counties along the border_shows that work still is needed to gal