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Julian Castro moves toward 2020 White House run

The Texas Democrat tells The Associated Press he'll announce a decision next month.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Former Obama housing chief Julian Castro says he's taking a step toward a possible White House campaign in 2020 by forming a presidential exploratory committee. The Texas Democrat tells The Associated Press he'll announce a decision next month.

The move Wednesday gives the 44-year-old former San Antonio mayor an early start to what's shaping up as a crowded Democratic field without a clear front-runner to challenge President Donald Trump.

Castro also posted a video to his youtube page. He posted at statement with the video that reads: "If we want to see a change, we don’t wait for it, we work toward it. Today, more than ever, we must work together to build an America where everyone — no matter who we are or where we come from — can thrive. Working together, I believe we can build a new promise for ourselves and for our future. I’m exploring a candidacy for President in 2020."

Castro was on the short list of running mates for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Talk of his 2020 candidacy has been eclipsed so far by bigger names, including Beto O'Rouke, a Texas congressman who lost last month to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

An exploratory committee lets potential candidates raise money and is usually a steppingstone to a formal campaign launch.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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