Democratic Texas gubernatorial hopeful Beto O’Rourke is getting roasted by conservatives on social media for a picture he posted with a message about “trans kids.”
On Thursday, O’Rourke posted a picture wearing a t-shirt that had the colors of the Texas state flag on it.
Additionally, it read, “Don’t mess with Trans kids.”
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) March 31, 2022
His post comes on the International Transgender Day of Visibility.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tweeted in response, “Robert Francis in six months: No one is sexualizing your children.”
Check out some of the reactions below:
Find a dentist. https://t.co/VSN2afopRK
— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) March 31, 2022
He looks like he's not allowed within 500 feet of a Chuck E Cheese https://t.co/3m6YUh48Ju
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) March 31, 2022
at least there isn’t a depressed dog in this picture
— Jessica O’Donnell 🏈 (@heckyessica) March 31, 2022
"Don't mess with trans kids, so let them mutilate themselves" is one hell of a hill to die on.
— Ian Haworth (@ighaworth) March 31, 2022
Not to go all RETVRN before noon but adult men fangirling over “trans kids” is extremely creepy https://t.co/cQPklbna1A
— Inez Stepman ⚪️🔴⚪️ (@InezFeltscher) March 31, 2022
Yeah, this will really resonate with Texans. https://t.co/F22P199knG
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) March 31, 2022
Presented without comment https://t.co/9RiaZFckaV
— Julia Johnson (@juliaajohnson_) March 31, 2022
O’Rourke, a former Congressman who previously launched failed bids for the Senate and presidency, won his party’s nomination for governor earlier this month.
He will face off against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in the November general election.
As USA Today notes, “Both are prolific fundraisers who have captured significant support from their respective parties. Fundraising figures from both campaigns released Wednesday show O’Rourke and Abbott raising money at a similar pace, but Abbott has amassed a campaign war chest that gives him a significant advantage in the race.”
“Abbott received $3.8 million in donations from Jan. 1 through Feb. 19 and O’Rourke raised $3 million over the same period. But Abbott ended the fundraising period with $49.8 million on hand to O’Rourke’s $6.8 million,” it added.
While O’Rourke has been a successful fundraiser, polls show that he is trailing Abbott.
A Dallas Morning News poll conducted last month found that 38% of respondents said they would vote for O’Rourke.
Meanwhile, 45% said they would vote for Abbott.
That is an improvement for the Texas Democrat from January when Abbott held an 11 point lead over O’Rourke.
Additionally, the poll found that 49% of respondents said the state was going in the wrong direction, and 50% said it was going in the right direction.
Abbott’s approval rating sits at 50% approval and 46% disapproval in the latest poll.
That is up from September when his approval rating was at 45%.
But it is down double digits from April 2020 when he received a 61% approval rating.