Joaquin Castro says decision on Senate race coming soon, possibly by May 1

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, center, stands with state senators as he addresses a GOP-backed resolution in the Texas Legislature supporting President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency on the U.S.-Mexico border has reignited an immigration debate in the Capitol, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) less U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, center, stands with state senators as he addresses a GOP-backed resolution in the Texas Legislature supporting President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency on the ... more Photo: Eric Gay, STF / Associated Press Photo: Eric Gay, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Joaquin Castro says decision on Senate race coming soon, possibly by May 1 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said he still has not made a decision on whether he will run against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2020.

“I’ll have an announcement soon,” Castro said during a stop at the Texas Capitol Building on Wednesday.

Castro, the 44-year-old San Antonio Democrat, pointed out that in past races he’s made a decision by May 1.

As Castro weighed his decision, other prominent Democrats have said they, too, are looking at jumping into the race. MJ Hegar, a former U.S. Air Force helicopter pilot, has said on social media that she is considering making a bid.

When asked about Hegar on Wednesday, Castro spoke more generally about how competitive primaries are likely going to be the norm in Texas politics.

“I think probably the era of uncontested primaries in both parties in Texas is over,” Castro said.

In 2018, Hegar narrowly lost a race for Congress in Williamson County, just north of Austin. Hegar was a longshot when the race started, but raised $5 million and nearly defeated U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, who has been in Congress since 2002.

Castro may not be in the Senate race, but he used his stop Wednesday to jab at Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, both Republicans, for not being more aggressive in opposing President Donald Trump’s threat to close the U.S. border with Mexico.

“The U.S.-Mexico border could be shut down and the response so far from our senators has been very feeble and weak,” Castro said.

Castro said shutting the border would have a devastating impact on Texas and its economy.

Cornyn was also in Austin on Wednesday talking about border security. He said he has advised President Trump against closing the border.

“I told him I thought there were better alternatives that would not have unintended consequences,” said Cornyn, who has been in the U.S. Senate since 2002.

In March, Trump told reporters there was “a very good likelihood” he would close the border. Later he said he didn’t think he would need to close the border.

At a press conference with Cruz and members of the state Senate, Cornyn stressed that there is a crisis on the border that Democrats are not taking seriously enough. He pointed to data that show that the number of people detained at the border has jumped from 76,000 in February to 103,000 in March.

“When it hits 200,000 will that be enough for them to acknowledge the obvious?” Cornyn asked.