The list of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates is extensive to say the least, and along with names like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, Beto O'Rourke officially entered the race in March. In a video posted to his social media account, the 46-year-old Texas Democratic congressman from El Paso announced that he was running for president in 2020 after months of speculation. Since then, we've seen him stand alongside his fellow candidates in what's now been two rounds of debates.
He charmed liberals everywhere during his furious campaign for the state's senate seat last year, fighting to take the post from tenured Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
To the disappointment of his supporters both in and out of the state of Texas, O'Rourke lost the race on election day—but that did nothing to quiet rumblings of his presidential potential. Even Oprah asked if he had plans to go after the role of POTUS number 46.
"I want to make sure that Amy and I, Ulysses, Molly, and Henry, our three kiddos who are 10, 12, and 8, we’re all good with this, we’re all on the same page,” he told her during a SuperSoul conversation in February. "For the last seven years, my family hasn’t seen me. I haven’t been there for them, I haven’t helped Amy in raising these amazing kids in any significant, consistent way.”
Of course, the Amy he's referring to is his wife of nearly 14 years, Amy Sanders O'Rourke. And while there's plenty to learn about the potential candidate himself, we were curious to know a bit more about her—she could become First Lady, after all!
Though the 37-year-old has frequently been at her husband's side at public engagements, in social media posts, and even in his presidential announcement clip, she's relatively private. She's only had a handful of interviews with the media, though she does offer a peek inside her life as a mom and on the road with her husband on her Instagram. Still, we managed to find the answers to a few questions you may have about Amy, the possible 2020 FLOTUS.
Amy and Beto O'Rourke met on a blind date.
Chip Somodevilla//Getty Images
According to the AP, the two were set-up in 2004. The now-congressman took his future bride to an entirely different country for their first date (well, only 11 miles away from El Paso): The famous Kentucky Club Bar in Juarez, Mexico. It's believed by many to be the birthplace of the margarita.
“He was giving me reasons 1 through 10 of why I needed to stay in El Paso,” Amy said of their date to Vanity Fair. “And I quickly learned that he just is an ultimate El Paso salesman.”
Beto told The Washington Post that after drinks, they were stopped by a camera crew who wanted them to kiss for a TV commercial, but Beto deterred them by saying he and Amy were brother and sister—because of course he did.
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Another fun fact? According to the publication, Amy and Beto's parents went on a date years before the two were even born. His mom (Melissa) went out with her dad (Bill) on a double-date with Bill's friend in 1970. But even though there weren't any sparks between the two, Melissa hit it off with the other guy: Patrick O’Rourke. They were married less than a year later.
So, were Amy and Beto nearly brother and sister? It depends how you look at it. But somehow, fate brought them together romantically.
Amy and Beto got engaged four months after they met.
According to the Washington Post, the presidential hopeful proposed to his beau on April Fool's Day. No, we're not joking. And just six months after that, in 2005, they were married.
The two now live in El Paso with their three kids: Ulysses, 12, Molly, 10, and 8-year-old Henry. Oh, and they have a dog named Rosie.
She works to improve education in her hometown.
After graduating from Massachusetts' Williams College—a private liberal arts school—with a major in psychology and minor in Spanish, the El Paso native established an impressive career in education.
She's currently the director of a program called "Choose to Excel" at a non-profit organization called CREEED, which seeks to "identify and implement solutions" that will improve education standards in the El Paso community, better-preparing the city's students for college.
Her bio on CREEED's website also says that she taught kindergarten in Guatemala City a few months after graduating college, served as the first superintendent for dual language charter school La Fe Preparatory (which she also helped launch), and owned a web and software development company called Stanton Street until selling it in 2017. Beto was the original owner after founding it with friends in 1999.
Some people think Amy is a billionaire heiress.
Last October, The New York Times published a story calling Amy's father—Texas real estate magnate William Sanders—a billionaire, which led the Spectator to refer to her as an heiress.
As it turns out, according to Forbes, her dad is known as the "godfather" of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), and in 2002 he sold one of his companies to General Electric for $5.4 billion. However, after making millions over decades from various businesses, Forbes estimates he has a net worth of around $500 million and "it's unlikely, though possible, that he's a billionaire."
As far as her own personal funds, the Texas Tribune reported that both Amy and Beto have combined assets worth as high as $16 million, including a trust fund in her name that totals as high as $5 million.
She'll be a supportive prospective FLOTUS.
Despite the fact that O'Rourke says she "immediately started crying" when Beto mentioned he might run for congress back in 2010, Amy has since shown nothing but support for her husband's political aspirations.
She accompanied him when he first announced his bid for the senate seat in 2017, and was frequently at his side as he traveled the Lone Star State last year on the campaign trail. Even after he lost that race to Sen. Ted Cruz, she took the stage with him during his concession speech on November 6. He posted an adorable selfie of the two the next day
Now, when it comes to his presidential aspirations, Beto made it clear that a decision wouldn't be made without the support of his wife and his kids. So, it seems like he has it. In his nearly four-minute long announcement video, his first sentence was extremely telling.
"Amy and I are happy to share with you that I'm running to serve you as the next president of the United State of America," he said.
Well, there you go. Despite her occasional frustrations of being at home with the kids while Beto is on the road campaigning, she explained her perspective to the The Washington Post.
“I have figured out a way to fulfill my purpose and be the mom that I want,” she said. “And I in no way wanted him to sacrifice that sense of purpose.”
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McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at OprahMag.com covering pop culture, TV, movies, celebrity, and lifestyle. She loves a great Oprah viral moment and all things Netflix—but come summertime, Big Brother has her heart. On a day off you'll find her curled up with a new juicy romance novel.
