Senate races

Castro looking at Cruz challenge

by Ben Kamisar 07/26/16 11:35 AM ET

Rep. Joaquín Castro (D-Texas) is keeping the door open to challenging Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

“I’m going to take a look at it in 2018. I’ll take a look at that and other opportunities,” Castro said Tuesday in an interview with CBS News.

{mosads}“I’ve never been somebody who’s said in two years I absolutely need to run for Senate or governor, but I will take a look at it.”

Castro would be seen as an underdog to Cruz, as Texas hasn’t had a Democratic senator since 1993.

But some believe Cruz could be a weaker Republican candidate after his decision not to endorse GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump at last week’s Republican National Convention.

Cruz was jeered and booed off the stage after he gave a speech that did not end with an endorsement.

And he fundraised off Castro’s remarks in an email to his supporters that hammered both brothers.

“Despite any record of achievement and a liberal ideology out of touch with the majority of Texans, the Castro brothers have the full support of the mainstream media and Washington establishment willing to do everything in their power to turn Texas blue,” he wrote.

“In order to stop the Castro brothers attempts to bring their liberal ideology to the halls of the U.S. Senate — I need you by my side.”

Castro offered his interest in a Cruz challenge after his twin brother, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, told CBS News on Tuesday that neither brother would challenge Cruz in 2018.

Joaquín Castro differed.

“He’s speaking for himself, not speaking for me on this one,” Castro said.

Julián Castro, for his part, hammered Cruz for losing his luster in Texas.

“Very tellingly, he used to be the most popular politician in Texas, and his standing has fallen very far,” the secretary said.

Consultant Roger Stone and radio host Alex Jones told The Hill last week that they spoke about funding a primary challenger to Cruz.

Updated 2:32 p.m.