Julian Castro

Julian Castro
Name	Julian Castro
Caption	Official portrait, 2014
Office	16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
President	Barack Obama
Term start	July 28, 2014
Term end	January 20, 2017
Predecessor	Shaun Donovan
Successor	Ben Carson
Office1	Mayor of San Antonio
Term start1	June 1, 2009
Term end1	July 22, 2014
Predecessor1	Phil Hardberger
Successor1	Ivy Taylor
Birth date	16 September 1974
Birth place	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Erica Castro, 2007
Education	Stanford University (BA), Harvard University (JD)
Relations	Joaquín Castro (twin brother)

Julian Castro is an American politician and attorney who served as the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama from 2014 to 2017. Prior to his federal appointment, he was the mayor of San Antonio, becoming one of the youngest mayors of a major American city. A prominent figure in the Democratic Party, he gained national attention with a keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and launched a campaign for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

Early life and education

Julian Castro was born in San Antonio, Texas, to political activist Rosie Castro and educator Maria del Rosario Castro. He and his identical twin brother, future U.S. Representative Joaquín Castro, were raised on the city's West Side. He attended Thomas Jefferson High School before enrolling at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communications. He subsequently received a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he was a member of the Harvard Latino Law Review.

Political career

Castro began his political career on the San Antonio City Council, representing District 7. In 2005, he made an unsuccessful bid for mayor, losing to Phil Hardberger. He won the mayoral election in 2009, succeeding Hardberger and focusing his administration on initiatives like SA2020, a long-term community vision, and Pre-K 4 SA, a nationally recognized early childhood education program. His tenure emphasized downtown revitalization and infrastructure projects. In 2012, he delivered the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, which significantly elevated his national profile. In 2014, President Barack Obama nominated him to lead the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he oversaw programs like the Choice Neighborhoods initiative and implemented the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.

2020 presidential campaign

Castro launched his campaign for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries in January 2019, formally announcing in his hometown of San Antonio. His platform centered on comprehensive immigration reform, including a proposal to decriminalize unauthorized border crossings, universal pre-kindergarten, and a "People First Foreign Policy." He participated in the Democratic primary debates, often highlighting his housing and urban policy expertise. Despite performing strongly in several debates and earning endorsements from figures like United States Senator Elizabeth Warren, he struggled to gain significant polling traction. He suspended his campaign in January 2020 and later endorsed the eventual nominee, Joe Biden.

Post-political career

Since ending his presidential campaign, Castro has remained active in public policy and media. He joined the University of Texas at Austin as a professor of practice at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and became a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. He co-chairs the People First Future political action committee, which supports progressive candidates, and serves on the board of the Latino Victory Fund. He is also the author of a memoir, *An Unlikely Journey*, detailing his political rise.

Political positions

Castro is a progressive Democrat whose policy stances include support for the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and the legalization of cannabis. On immigration, he advocates for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and the restructuring of ICE. He is a proponent of police reform, including the demilitarization of police forces and banning practices like chokeholds. His housing policy work has focused on expanding affordable housing, combating housing discrimination, and strengthening the Fair Housing Act.

Personal life

Castro married elementary school teacher Erica Castro (née Lira) in 2007. They have two children, a daughter and a son, and reside in San Antonio. His twin brother, Joaquín Castro, represents Texas's 20th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Castro is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and has cited figures like Robert F. Kennedy and César Chávez as political inspirations.

Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:American city mayors Category:United States Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Stanford University alumni