The cross-country road trip taken by former Republican congressman Will Hurd and Democrat Beto O’Rourke has become a viral internet legend. From their rented Chevy Impala, they live-streamed a “bipartisan town hall” on Facebook and Twitter, engaging in policy debates, singing Willie Nelson songs, and making doughnut runs. Their friendship, despite their disagreements, captured national attention and showed Americans that unity is possible.
Fast forward to July, and Mr. Hurd finds himself on the road again, this time as a long-shot presidential candidate in the Republican primary. As a moderate Republican who values bipartisanship, Mr. Hurd’s campaign is a contrast to the party’s current partisan and polarizing rhetoric.
Mr. Hurd, 45, believes he brings something unique to the race. As a Black Republican who represented a majority Latino district, he wants to broaden his party’s appeal. He aims to distance himself from actions like “banning books” and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
However, Mr. Hurd faces numerous challenges in the primary race. He has been campaigning for just over a month and lags behind his opponents in terms of staffing, name recognition, and fundraising. His quarterly filings show a cash on hand amount of only $245,000. He may not even qualify for the first Republican primary debate due to the requirement of 40,000 unique donors and at least 1% support in three approved polls.
Even if he were to meet these requirements, Mr. Hurd still faces another hurdle. He refuses to sign the Republican National Committee’s controversial stipulation of supporting the party’s nominee. This decision may exclude him from the debate stage, limiting his opportunity to gain attention and support.
During a pit stop outside Manchester, Mr. Hurd made it clear that he has no issue championing a fellow Republican, but he will not support Donald Trump. He prioritizes honesty over gaining a microphone.
Mr. Hurd understands the challenges ahead and frequently refers to himself as a “dark horse” or “start-up” on the campaign trail. He targets voters who are tired of political toxicity, reject Trump, and seek a future vision for the Republican Party. Convincing this diverse group of Republicans, independents, and moderates to support him will be the ultimate test of his candidacy.
One-on-one, Mr. Hurd’s charisma and enthusiasm for policy shines through, but it remains to be seen how well he can translate his expertise to the wider public. At a presidential candidate speaker series at Dartmouth College, the audience gradually warmed up to him after a stiff start. Mr. Hurd emphasized the competition with China as a global superpower and discussed the potential impact of AI on employment and education inequality.
While some audience members, such as retired nurse practitioner Alice Werbel, saw Mr. Hurd as “up and coming,” they were not convinced he could win the presidency. They suggested positions such as technology czar for him instead. However, conservative student Josh Paul, impressed by Mr. Hurd’s rejection of Trump, volunteered for the campaign despite uncertainty about his chances.
Mr. Hurd represented a competitive congressional district for three terms and emphasized the need to diversify the Republican Party. He has been a consistent critic of Trump while maintaining conservative values. Though he acknowledges communities with unequal opportunities, he doesn’t characterize it as systemic racism.
At a town hall in Goffstown, Democratic voter Thalia Floras appreciated Mr. Hurd’s willingness to listen to opposing views, even if she disagreed with his support for an abortion ban. Marie Mulroy, an independent, supported Mr. Hurd for his compassion, bipartisan approach, and understanding of the future.
In a political argument, a synthesis of ideas is necessary, but that seems to be lacking in politics today. Voters crave the middle ground, the synthesis, where they can find common ground and move forward together.
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