Texas Latino Leader Castro Uses His Platform to Build Case for a 2020 White House Bid

Source: Sacbee.com

Julian Castro is using the sudden national spotlight on Texas to carve out a role as a fierce White House critic and a leading voice on Hispanic issues as he builds a case for a potential 2020 president run. The former Obama administration Cabinet secretary has been publicly blasting President Donald Trump on a host of issues related to Texas. Notably, Castro bucked his party’s politically-neutral approach to Hurricane Harvey recovery – and went on national television to slam Trump’s visit to Texas to comfort storm victims. He’s also using his perch as a Latino leader in the state with the second largest Hispanic population to condemn the White House’s plan to end protections for children who were brought to the country illegally. Castro’s moves are a preview of his potential pitch in what could be a crowded 2020 Democratic field. A month ago, he launched a political action committee, cited by political watchers as the first step toward a potential presidential bid.