Ex-mayor might decide on run early next year By Jeremy Wallace
San Antonio’s Castro taking political steps toward presidential bid
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro told a crowd Saturday in Austin that he is aiming for a decision early next year on whether he’ll run for president in 2020.
“If I decide to jump into the race, probably at the beginning of next year,” Castro said, adding that 2020 looks like it will be a “swingback election” where the American public will be looking for a message of unity and integrity.
“You’ve had the most divisive president in our lifetime,” Castro said at the Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin.
Castro is making all of the traditional political steps of a candidate that could run. He has a new book coming out on Oct. 9 called “An Unlikely Journey,” is building up a political action committee called Opportunity First PAC, and is making trips to early voting states like Iowa already.
After being mayor of San Antonio
from 2009 to 2014, Castro, now 44, was chosen by President Barack Obama to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was considered as a running mate for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign but was eventually passed over for U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine.
Castro was asked if he thinks Clinton would have fared better with him on the ticket.
“I don’t know,” Castro said. “Who can ever say?”
Castro said no matter who the Democratic Party nominee is in 2020, he predicted there will be a woman on the ballot either running as president or vice president. Asked if he would pick a woman as a running mate if he were the nominee, Castro quickly stated: “for sure.”
Asked if he would pick a woman as a running mate if he were the nominee, Castro quickly stated: “for sure.”