WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke is pledging not to take donations from the fossil fuel industry, a dramatic about-face from his star-making run for Senate in oil-rich Texas last year when he was one of the top candidates backed by the sector.

O'Rourke announced late Wednesday that he'd signed a no-donation pledge backed by environmental groups. He'd previously said he'd shun support from energy company CEOs but not from rank-and-file employees.

The former congressman said he'd return all donations worth over $200 from the sector that he'd received since launching his presidential bid on March 14.

The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics says that while challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz last November, O'Rourke accepted $540,000-plus donations from the oil and gas sector, second most of any candidate that cycle behind Cruz.

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