The field is already starting to get crowded. First it was Elizabeth Warren, then Tulsi Gabbard, followed by Kamala Harris saying “maybe.” Now we have Julian Castro officially announcing that he’s joining the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.
Castro served under President Obama as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and was also the mayor of San Antonio, Texas.
He plans to run on a progressive agenda and says his first act as President would be rejoining the Paris climate agreement. The son of immigrants, the candidate also promised comprehensive immigration reform and called out President Trump on the issue, saying he’s a “failed leader.”
“He’s a failed leader on this issue, and now he’s just trying to stoke his political base by bringing up the wall all the time,” Castro said. “And it’s just a failure of leadership all around. I would end this kind of family detention.”
"We each have a moral obligation to do what is right, to do what is good, to do what is just." Words to live by, @jamestalarico. Means a lot that you are here today.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019
"In the years to come, we must go forward as one nation, working toward one destiny."
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019
"And that destiny is to be the smartest, the healthiest, the fairest, and the most prosperous nation on earth."
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019
He also hit on the usual talking points of universal healthcare, Black Lives Matter and a woman’s right to choose.
"It’s time for Medicare for All–universal health care for every American." #Julian2020 #Medicare4All
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019
"Don’t tell me that Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Aiyana Jones, Eric Garner, Jason Pero, Stephon Clark, and Sandra Bland shouldn’t still be alive today." #Julian2020
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019
"We can raise the minimum wage so people don’t have to work two or three jobs to support a family." #Julian2020
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 12, 2019