Political figures Beto ORourke and Tim Ryan have been appointed as Pritzker Fellows at the University of Chicagos Institute of Politics for their upcoming winter-spring seminars.
According to the Pritzker Fellows application website, OP Pritzker Fellows presents a unique opportunity for political and public service leaders to learn and grow. Whether through engaging with students and faculty, auditing classes, or conducting research, The IOP Pritzker Fellows Program provides a rare opportunity to enjoy eight weeks of paid enrichment at one of the worlds great universities.
These appointments have caused an uproar in the political realm because between the two of them, they are 5-time losers on the political campaign trail.
ORourke has suffered three losses in his political career in 2018, he lost in a Texas U.S. Senate bid against Ted Cruz, in 2020 he lost in the Democratic primaries for president, and in 2022 he lost in a gubernatorial bid against Republican Greg Abbott.
Ryan, who was recently defeated by political outsider J.D. Vance to become the next Ohio senator, also lost in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.
While the University of Chicago has defended their decision, citing the two candidates long history of involvement in the public sphere, many political commentators have argued that it is inappropriate to reward individuals who have repeatedly failed in their political ambitions.
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