Ex-Punk Rocker Politician Challenging Ted Cruz in 2018 Senate Race

Ex-Punk Rocker Challenging Ted Cruz in '18

Beto O’Rourke (D-Tex.) stands for a portrait in the middle of the international bridge between the U.S. and Mexico, Friday, February 10, 2017, in El Paso, Texas. (Ivan Pierre Aguirre/ For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Texas Senator Ted Cruz better start brushing up on his Sex Pistols, Minor Threat, and Bad Religion.

In 2018, the incumbent Republican’s seat will be challenged by U.S. Rep, Democrat, and three-time punk-rocker Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke.

No confirmation of a campaign kickoff has been made as of yet, but sources in the Democratic party told the Houston Chronicle that the announcement will likely be made on Friday.

As the Chronicle notes, O’Rourke might as well be the polar opposite of the arch-conservative Cruz; he’s a staunch liberal, a proponent of recreational marijuana and immigrant rights, and played in a trio of punk bands while studying at Columbia University.

One of those bands, Foss, featured a future member of indie-punk stalwarts At the Drive-In and The Mars Volta.

Below, watch O’Rourke perform with Foss back on this grainy clip back in ’94 (that’s him shredding on guitar and singing lead vocals in the white t-shirt).