Beto O’Rourke has lost three races in four years. Is his political career over?

Decision Desk HQ has called the election for Abbott. (Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune)

Four years ago, Beto O’Rourke became the next great hope for the Texas Democratic Party.

Starting his senatorial campaign as a little-known congressman from El Paso, he captured lightning in a bottle by barnstorming across the state’s 254 counties on his way to a narrow loss to Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.