Rep. Joaquin Castro won’t challenge Ted Cruz in ’18

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro says he won’t run for the U.S. Senate in 2018 after spending months considering a run against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
The Democrat’s announcement Monday helps clear the Democratic primary field for his fellow Texas congressman, Beto O’Rourke, who has already launched a Senate campaign. Cruz is coming off a failed run for president and will be seeking re-election for the first time.
The 42-year-old Castro is a rising Democrati