EDINBURG — Fourteen Rio Grande Valley mayors have endorsed Mikal Watts, a Democrat considering a run against Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.

The endorsements were announced at an event Wednesday afternoon

Watts, an attorney living in San Antonio, was born and raised in Corpus Christi.

"These mayors are with me here today because the way I will provide leadership when I am a United States Senator is by treating South Texas as my native soil and not as merely an election-year destination,” Watts said in a statement released after the event.

The mayors praised Watts for his opposition to the proposed border security fence in a signed letter Watts’ campaign released.

Those who endorsed the candidate lead the cities of: Alamo, Alton, Edcouch, Edinburg, Elsa, Granjeno, La Joya, La Villa, Palmhurst, Palmview, Peñitas, San Juan, Sullivan City and Weslaco.