Rep. Eric Swalwell Eric Michael SwalwellSwalwell calls for creation of presidential crimes commission to investigate Trump when he leaves office 'This already exists': Democrats seize on potential Trump executive order on preexisting conditions Swalwell: Barr has taken Michael Cohen's job as Trump's fixer MORE (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that he will make a decision on a 2020 presidential run by the end of March and that he will make gun violence and climate change key campaign issues if he does decide to run.

Asked during a question-and-answer session at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics when he plans to announce a decision on a White House bid, Swalwell said “by the end of the month.”

ADVERTISEMENT

“There are three questions I’ve asked myself,” he said. “Do I think I can make a difference? Do I think I can win? Because I don’t think — even if you can make a difference, if you can’t win, it’s a hell of a sacrifice to take your family and friends and home constituents through.”

“And then three, can we get the child care for two kids under two to do it?”

While Swalwell has said for weeks that he is close to making a 2020 decision, his remarks on Tuesday provided the clearest timeline yet of when an announcement could come.

Swalwell has gained a national profile in recent years while sitting on two key House panels examining Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election.

The four-term congressman has entertained the notion of a 2020 bid for months, crisscrossing key early voting states, like Iowa and New Hampshire, that will play a crucial role in determining the eventual Democratic presidential nominee.

If he does jump into the race, he’ll face an already-crowded field of primary opponents that includes Sens. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHarris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda Judd Gregg: The Kamala threat — the Californiaization of America GOP set to release controversial Biden report MORE (D-Mass.), Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) and Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice First presidential debate to cover coronavirus, Supreme Court Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (D-Calif.) along with roughly a dozen other Democrats.

Also looming over the Democratic primary is the pending entrance of other high-profile politicians. Former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' MORE, who leads a number of polls, and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) are both expected to announce 2020 decisions soon.

Swalwell said that, if he does mount a White House campaign, he’s not likely to run for reelection to his House seat in 2020.

“I don’t think you can run for both,” he said. “I do believe that if you’re running for president then you should be running for president.”