They represent mostly mainstream tastes, favoring hit singles over B-sides they feature a handful of songs with lyrics that reflect the politician’s public values and/or willingness to fight for their constituents (Ryan’s includes Cake’s “The Distance,” while 83-year-old Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who hasn’t got time for subtlety, favors “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”). These playlists tend to follow a similar trajectory. House Speaker Paul Ryan, meanwhile, is a fan of the under-utilized rock flute, as evinced by his appreciation for the Marshall Tucker Band’s masterpiece “Can’t You See.”

How much does Representative Darrell Issa, a Republican from California, really have in common with his average constituent? If they share his affinity for Dylan cuts like “Idiot Wind” and “Changing of the Guard,” more than they might think. The Spotify playlist has become a tool that many politicians use to connect with people. insiders appeared on the cover of an EP wearing a dress? O’Rourke’s history was a member of Foss, the El Paso punk band that preceded the legendary At The Drive-In, is well known, but now we can judge for ourselves if the 45-year-old father is still punk. For the past few months, O’Rourke has been compiling tracks on a Spotify playlist called “BBQ For Beto.” Senate hopefuls have college stories about hanging out with Feist outside of a show, or can claim that they taught rockstars like Cedric Bixler-Zavala how to tour? Have many Washington, D.C.

Representative Beto O’Rourke has gotten a lot of mileage out of his punk rock past.

Punk spotify playlist covers