Times Colonist

Former Obama housing chief joins 2020 race

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SAN ANTONIO — Assailing U.S. President Donald Trump for “a crisis of leadership,” former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro joined the 2020 presidenti­al race Saturday.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, made immigratio­n a centrepiec­e of his announceme­nt in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, 320 kilometres from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Two days after the president visited the border to promote his promised wall, Castro mocked Trump for claiming that the U.S. faces an “invasion” from its ally to the south. “He called it a national security crisis,” Castro said. “Well, there is a crisis today. It’s a crisis of leadership. Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation.”

Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, said he was running for president “because it’s time for new leadership, because it’s time for new energy and it’s time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunit­ies that I’ve had are available to every American.”

Castro was San Antonio’s mayor for five years and U.S. housing secretary in president Barack Obama’s second term. He was on the short list of Hillary Clinton’s potential running mates in 2016.

Castro has said he will not accept money from political action committees tied to corporatio­ns and unions, and he has sought to introduce himself to voters as a champion for universal health care and affordable housing. —

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