Who is Julian Castro?

Chicago Tribune (IL)

Julian Castro is the former mayor of San Antonio who served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama. In a wide and diverse field of Democrats, Castro is the only Latino in the race and has heavily emphasized immigration policy amid President Donald Trump’s attacks on immigrants, separation of families at the border and efforts to spend billions on a border wall.

Age: 45

Born: San Antonio

Hometown: San Antonio

Government experience: Member of San Antonio City Council (2001-05); mayor of San Antonio (2009-14); U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014-17).

Political experience: Elected to the San Antonio City Council at the age of 26. Lost a 2005 bid for mayor to retired Judge Phil Hardberger, who won 51% of the vote; Castro handily won a second bid for mayor in 2009, winning 56% of the vote. In 2012, he became the first Latino to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

Three top issues:

1) Immigration reform: Castro, whose grandmother immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, released a comprehensive immigration plan before many of his opponents. He’s opposed to any further construction of a border wall and backs creating a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. He also wants to decriminalize crossing the border illegally by making it a civil offense.

2) Universal pre-K: Castro has proposed a “Pre-K for USA” program that would provide universal, full-day pre-K to all of the nation’s 3- and 4-year-olds through federal grants to state and local governments.

3) Medicare for All: Like fellow candidates U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Castro favors a “Medicare for All” plan that would provide insurance coverage to all Americans.

Three key attributes:

1) Aggressive in debates: As he’s tried to gain a foothold in the crowded race, Castro has gone on the offensive in debates, including slamming Biden for his embrace of Obamacare (even though he, too, was a member of the Obama administration) and questioning the 77-year-old front-runner’s memory.

2) Backs the Green New Deal: Castro supports the Green New Deal, the controversial and ambitious climate change and income inequality plan championed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York. The plan calls for government-sponsored jobs, investment in electric cars and high speed rail, and for the U.S. to use energy sources that are 100% clean and renewable, among many other provisions. Castro’s $10 trillion plan strives to have all U.S. electricity come from clean and renewable sources by 2035 and aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Castro also would rejoin the Paris climate accord.

3) A twin: Castro’s twin brother, Joaquin Castro, is a congressman representing portions of San Antonio. Joaquin Castro, previously a Texas state representative, has grown a beard in an attempt to not be confused with his presidential candidate brother.

Campaign slogan: “One Nation. One Destiny.”

Campaign website: julianforthefuture.com

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