Texas Dems trying to convince Joaquin Castro to run for governor

Texas Democrats are reportedly urging Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) to mount a challenge against Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2018, The Dallas Morning News reports.

“He and others are considering it,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa told the Morning News.

“It’s a very big decision for him,” Hinojosa added. “It would require him to leave his safe seat in the U.S. House, where he’s a rising star.”

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Castro has represented Texas’s 20th congressional district in San Antonio since 2013.

In May, Castro reportedly told supporters he had no plans to challenge Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for his seat next year, and was focused instead on being reelected to the House. A fellow Democrat, Rep. Beto O’Rourke, is running for the seat.

Hinojosa told the paper he did not know which way Castro was leaning on a gubernatorial bid.

“I won’t comment on conversations I’ve had with potential candidates,” he said.

In 2014, Castro’s twin brother opted against a run for governor. That year, Abbott defeated then-state Sen. Wendy Davis (D).