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O’Rourke Campaign Says ‘Impostor’ Sent Bogus Texts

Messages asked for supporters to transport undocumented immigrants to polling places

The Senate campaign for Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, said an impostor was sending texts on his campaign's behalf. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
The Senate campaign for Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, said an impostor was sending texts on his campaign's behalf. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s Senate campaign said an “impostor” was pretending to be part of the Democrat’s texting team asking volunteers to “transport undocumented immigrants” to vote. 

The messages were sent by someone who identified herself as a member of O’Rourke’s team named Patty who said the campaign was “in search of volunteers to help transport undocumented immigrants to polling booths,” the Austin American-Statesman reported.

O’Rourke’s campaign spokesman Chris Evans told the newspaper the messages were sent by “an impostor.”

“We’re very sorry about this and have taken the necessary steps to make sure that they do not continue sending text messages with our campaign,” he said. 

One supporter named Hank Freeman said he received the message and took it in stride.

“I thought it was hilarious,” he said. “It’s pretty transparent.”

Zach Snyder, another O’Rourke supporter also received the message on Wednesday afternoon.

“That is obviously a fake,” Snyder said. “It’s just an outrageous and terrible thing to do, because it’s trying to fool people.”

O’Rourke is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. He has out-raised the incumbent in the past two quarters and polls show a close race. Republican money has started to flow into the state, one that they thought would be an easy win.

The El Paso Democrat’s campaign has used texts to try to rally Democrats ahead of November, using the Texas Democratic Party’s voter database.

At one point, O’Rourke’s campaign event texted his opponent.

“They have texted my dad five times. They texted me three times, Cruz said, according to the Texas Tribune. “I gotta say, the third time, I told them I was on the fence.”

Watch: Cruz’s First TV Ad Focuses on Hurricane Harvey Recovery

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