Rep. Joaquin Castro Joaquin CastroFlorida Democrat asks FBI to investigate anti-Semitic, racist disinformation Hispanic Caucus members embark on 'virtual bus tour' with Biden campaign Hispanic caucus report takes stock of accomplishments with eye toward 2021 MORE (D-Texas) will not challenge Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas) in 2020, according to an interview he did with Hearst Newspapers.

"Right now, I’m going to focus on my work in the House of Representatives. I’ve been doing what I feel is important and meaningful work here," Castro said in the interview, which was carried by the Houston Chronicle. "If and when I run for another office, it is likely to be something that takes me back home to Texas."

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Castro becomes the latest high-profile Democrat to decline to run for the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-seat majority.

Democrats had expected to mount a big push to retake the Senate next year, given that Republicans are defending 22 seats, while Democrats have 12 seats on the table.

But earlier this week, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams confirmed she would not challenge Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.).

Other Democrats have decided to run for president in 2020 instead, including former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper John HickenlooperCook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Willie Nelson playing at virtual fundraiser for Hickenlooper Gardner on court vacancy: Country needs to mourn Ginsburg 'before the politics begin' MORE, who opted not to challenge Sen. Cory Gardner Cory Scott GardnerCook Political Report shifts Colorado Senate race toward Democrat Overnight Health Care: US coronavirus deaths hit 200,000 | Ginsburg's death puts future of ObamaCare at risk | Federal panel delays vote on initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting MORE (R-Colo.), and Castro's twin brother, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro.

Joaquin Castro’s decision will mean a clearer path to the Democratic nomination for MJ Hegar, an Air Force veteran who narrowly lost a House race to Rep. John Carter John Rice CarterDonna Imam wins Democratic runoff to face Rep. John Carter House panel advances bill banning construction on bases with Confederate names Democrats see victory in Trump culture war MORE (R-Texas) in 2018 and who announced her candidacy for Senate in Texas last week.

Castro said he was impressed with Hegar, telling the publication that regardless of who was nominated, "I’ll do everything I can to help our Democratic nominee win."