AUSTIN, Texas — Ronnie Cho, a former White House staffer, is “very close” to making a decision on whether he’ll run for Arizona’s 7th District this year.  

The Arizona he knows and loves “hasn’t been represented by the people who are put up for office,” Cho said. “Certainly I’m an unconventional candidate, if that’s the case. I haven’t gone through the ranks, but maybe that’s OK.” Cho was moderating a panel on youth activism at the South By Southwest Interactive festival. The son of Korean immigrants was President Barack Obama’s associate director of public engagement, focusing on outreach to millennials and writing for the White House’s For the Win blog.  

The district is open because of Democratic Rep. Ed Pastor’s retirement . Another Democrat, Arizona state Rep. Ruben Gallego, has already thrown his hat in the ring .  

The deadline to file in Arizona is May 28. Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call rates the district as Safe Democrat.