Joaquin Castro says he won't challenge Ted Cruz for Senate in 2018
Source: Texas Tribune
01 MAY 2017 AT 15:51 ET
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, has decided not to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in 2018.
He announced the decision in an email to supporters Monday, saying he wants to remain focused on his work in the House. The decision leaves U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, D-El Paso, as Cruzs main competition.
Ive kept my pledge to fight for hard-working Texans, and Ill keep doing that, Castro said in the email. However, with the threats posed by Russia and North Korea, coupled with the reckless behavior of this Administration and their failure to invest in economic opportunity for the American people, at this time I believe I can best continue that work by focusing on my duties in the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Committees.
Castro, seen as a rising star among Texas Democrats, had been mulling a Senate run for several months. In recent weeks, he promised to announce his decision by the end of April. As recently as last week, he was non-committal to House colleagues.
Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/01/joaquin-castro-not-challenge-ted-cruz-senate/
ck4829
(35,042 posts)Make it a referendum.
That is, if nobody else can be found.
Judi Lynn
(160,515 posts)mahina
(17,642 posts)cannabis_flower
(3,764 posts)He might have even had my vote against Castro, although I'm not sure.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)it's that Republican assholes can have no problem winning if enough assholes show up at the polls.
I bet Castro got some polling that indicated there are a lot of assholes in Texas.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)liked by Hispanics here whereas Cruz not so much! It would have helped with voter registration in the Valley where there is a huge Hispanic population. If they ever get registration going down there it would go a long way to turning Texas blue. All things being equal, once that happens Republicans will never see the inside of the WH again!
haele
(12,646 posts)Don't risk a strong Democratic house seat - and according to the inlaws, there's some Taliborn-again/MAGA sectarian infighting going on in San Antonio right now, but as it still might take a few years to sort out, Joaquin Castro is "hold your nose" acceptable to the majority of Republicans there - and don't split the Senate Democratic base into purity factions over a primary fight. O'Rourke is less threatening to the political hierarchy in Texas; Castro is assumed to have Presidential aspirations.
I'm pretty sure that despite the religious Reich veneer, Cruz is a weak Republican - even for that Purple/Red state. I know more than a few Republicans (again, the in laws and their country club friends) who mentioned how they only voted for him at the senate seat to get him out of Texas government. Now that he's not running for a state office, they will be more than willing to leave his name unchecked in the general.
Haele
LeftInTX
(25,225 posts)As crazy as he is, they must like them crazy down here.
ladjf
(17,320 posts)If there is a chance of overturning Cruz he should take it. Nothing else he might could do would be as significant as subtracting a Republican and adding a Democrat.
onetexan
(13,036 posts)who was Obama's former housing secretary, and before that mayor of San Antonio. Julian is not holding office now and would make an amazing candidate. Both brothers are hugely popular among Dems here in Tx. Heck i'd love it he'd run.
Don't forget Beto O'rourke, currently a House rep out of El Paso, has declared he is running against Ted and actively campaigning. I went to his meet & greet, and i think he's got a great chance as well.
ladjf
(17,320 posts)America desparately needs more Dems elected.
MedusaX
(1,129 posts)O'Rourke has a lot going for him...
and Cruz will underestimate the level of competition
O'Rourke represents...
No need to compete amongst ourselves to see who gets to go head to head with Cruz...
better to act as a team from the start....
Beto is kicking ass!
nycbos
(6,034 posts)He has a relatively safe seat in the house and he is a rising star in the party who will be inline for a leadership position soon.
Why give that up for a long shot run for the Senate? Even if he wins he would be 100 out of 100 in terms of seniority.