Updated 4 p.m.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro announcedWednesdayhe has formed an exploratory committee in preparation for a presidential run in the 2020 election.
Castro, a Democrat who also served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Obama, posted the announcement on his and Twitter accounts.
WATCH | Castro's announcement via YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9EdmaN-pZ4&feature=youtu.beyoutu.be/j9EdmaN-pZ4
鈥淚 believe we can make a promise to people with black and brown skin, people that wear turbans and hijabs andyamakas, that you can walk down the street in your community, in any community and feel safe,鈥� Castro said.
Castro, who was on the short-list of potential running mates for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, said he plans to make an official announcementJan. 12.
鈥淎mericans are ready to climb out of this darkness, and we鈥檙e not going to wait. We鈥檙e going to work. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 exploring a candidacy for president in 2020,鈥� Castro said.
Since the beginning of 2018, Castro only hinted at a presidential run. But now, he鈥檚 not the only Texas Democrat eying the Oval Office.
Shortly after his close Senate loss to Republican Ted Cruz, Beto O鈥橰ourke said he wasn鈥檛 ruling out a presidential run in 2020.
Castro, speaking with reporters at his family鈥檚 home in San Antonio, welcomes the influx of Democratic leaders expected to announce their own presidential campaigns.
鈥淭he thing is, this year you鈥檙e going to have a very talented field of people. There might be two dozen people from all over the United States that are running," he said. "I think that is fantastic, not only for Democrats but for the country.鈥�
David Crockett, a political science professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, said O鈥橰ourke's popularity in Texas could present a challenge for Castro when he officially declares his candidacy.
鈥淏oth are very high-profile,鈥� he said, 鈥�(but) O鈥橰ourke is probably more high-profile right now because his political effort is more recent.鈥�
Castro acknowledged the long road ahead for him if he does officially announce his candidacy, and he accepts the challenge.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 grow up a frontrunner," he said. "I can鈥檛 think of a time in my life where I started out as a frontrunner in life. There鈥檚 a lot of people today in America who don鈥檛 feel like frontrunners and I鈥檓 going to speak to them and I believe I can win the nomination.鈥�
Julian Castro and his brother Congressman Joaquin Castro will appear together on the Late Show with Stephen ColbertThursdaynight.
TPR's Brian Kirkpatrick contributed to this report Ryan Poppe can be reached ator on Twitter
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