Career politician and former Obama cabinet member Julián Castro became the latest Democrat to throw his hat into the 2020 presidential race.
The former San Antonio mayor announced in front of a crowd of enthusiastic supporters at the San Antonio’s Plaza Guadalupe his intentions to become the next president of the United States, on Saturday.
Castro joins the likes of other presidential hopefuls Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former congressional Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, former state senator Richard Ojeda of West Virginia and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). Although he was not looked at to be a front runner, social media and his supporters embraced him as one. Warren and Castro are the two biggest names to enter the highly contested race thus far.
“I’m running for president because it’s time for new leadership. Because it’s time for new energy. And it’s time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I’ve had are available for every American,” Castro told the crowd Saturday.
As the 2020 race begins we are excited to see our former board member, @JulianCastro, officially announces his candidacy for the nation’s highest office! ????????pic.twitter.com/XNRMx4vkns
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) January 12, 2019
Running on a progressive agenda, Castro may become the nation's first Latino-American president. He champions Medicare for all, affordable college tuition, criminal justice and housing reform, The Washington Post notes.
"If police in Charleston can arrest Dylann Roof after he murdered nine people worshiping at Bible study, without hurting him, then don’t tell me that Michael Brown and Tamir Rice and Aiyana Jones and Eric Garner and Jason Pero and Stephon Clark and Sandra Bland shouldn’t still be alive today,” Castro said. “We’re going to keep saying their names and those of too many others just like them who were victims of state violence.”
At the age of 26, he served on the San Antonio city council, became mayor of his hometown in 2009 and then served in the Obama administration as secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 2014.
"I’m running for president because it’s time for new leadership. Because it’s time for new energy."
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019
“Today, we live in a world in which brainpower is the new currency of success,” Castro said. “If we want to compete — and we’d better — we need everybody’s talent. We don’t have a single person to waste.”
His campaign team comprises of diverse political experts including his twin brother, Joaquin, a representative for Texas's 20th congressional district.
WOW!@JulianCastro just announced the most diverse campaign team ever.
Brilliant Black woman as campaign manager!
-Campaign manager: @MayaRupert
-Campaign chairman: @JoaquinCastrotx
-Deputy campaign manager: @Derek_Eadon
-Senior adviser for comms and digital: @Jennifer_Fiore— Shaun King (@shaunking) January 12, 2019
The 44-year-old was galvanized by the election of President Donald Trump. After seeing the Trump administration fail in domestic and foreign policy, Castro helped young people run for office through his Opportunity First action committee.
Yesterday, @JulianCastro became the latest Democrat to announce he was running for President in 2020. You can catch more of @margbrennan's interview with Castro later this morning on Face the Nation. pic.twitter.com/PvpMLUyI3A
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 13, 2019
Castro will make his first stop on the campaign trail to Puerto Rico, The New York Times reports. He is slated to appear in New Hampshire shortly after that.
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