35 family members of Uvalde shooting victims throw their support behind Beto O’Rourke ahead of debate

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke hosts a news conference Friday in Edinburg with parents and families of the 19 children killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. (Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune)

EDINBURG — Hours ahead of the only planned gubernatorial debate of the election cycle, the families of Uvalde school shooting victims threw their support behind Democrat Beto O’Rourke, saying in a news conference that incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, had not taken meaningful enough action on gun control measures following the deaths of 19 schoolchildren and two teachers.

“I’m speaking directly to moms when I say our babies’ lives are on the ballot,” said Kimberly Rubio, the mother of 10-year-old Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio who was killed during the school shooting. “It happened to me, it can happen to you. And this pain, it’ll bring you to your knees.”