Julián Castro Could Be Our First Latino U.S. President
After a couple of months of anticipation, Julián Castro has officially announced that he is running for the U
Photo: Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore
After a couple of months of anticipation, Julián Castro has officially announced that he is running for the U.S. presidency in 2020.
“When my grandmother got here almost a hundred years ago, I’m sure she never could have imagined that just two generations later, one of her grandsons would be serving as a member of the United States Congress and the other would be standing with you here today to say these words: I am a candidate for President of the United States of America,” Castro said during a campaign rally in San Antonio on Saturday.
The 44-year-old had been inching his way towards that official announcement for a couple of months, telling the public that he was “considering” running for office. As more democratic politicians have added their name to the race including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, former State Senator Richard Ojeda of West Virginia, and former Representative John Delaney of Maryland, Castro is now one of them.
Castro understands, however, that even in the preliminary stages of this presidential campaign, he is not one of the standout candidates. Not yet anyway.
“I am not a frontrunner in this race, but I have not been a frontrunner at any time in my life,” Castro said. “I am going to go speak to them in a way that resonates with them,” and added that “My family’s story is a testament to what is possible when this country gets it right.”
So who is Castro? He’s definitely not a newbie when it comes to the White House. Here are some fascinating facts about Castro and why he’s a strong contender for becoming the first Latino U.S. president.
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If you’re missing Barack Obama, Castro could be your guy.
Castro worked alongside Obama between 2014 and 2017 as he was chosen to serve in the White House as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
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Mayor of San Antonio.
Between 2009 and 2013, Castro served as one of the youngest mayors in the country. Before that, he was just 26 when he served on the San Antonio City Council.
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Yes, he has a twin.
Joaquín Castro is a star politician in his own right. Between 2003 to 2013, Castro was a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
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His parents raised him well.
Castro’s mother, Rosie Castro, used to be an activist with the Mexican-American political party La Raza Unida.
“My path to public service did not begin with me,” Castro said. “It began when my grandmother, Victoria, came to the United States at seven years old. She never made it past the fourth grade but worked hard to teach her family the value of hard work as she cleaned houses and worked as a maid. She passed on those values of hard work and perseverance to my mother, Rosie, who grew up to become a strong Chicana activist, educator and single mom to myself and my twin brother Joaquin.”
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He is a father and husband.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdG4C0shJ_O/
Castro is married to Erica Castro, and the couple has two children.
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His first stop is Puerto Rico!
Today he arrives in Puerto Rico for his first campaign stop.
“I am just going to be myself,” he said, according to CNN. “My focus will be about representing everybody but of course there is a special significance to the Latino community especially because many Latinos feels like there is a target on their back from this administration.”
