Former member of Obama’s cabinet enters 2020 race

A FORMER member of Barack Obama’s cabinet has joined the 2020 presidential race the Democrats make early moves to challenge Donald Trump accelerates.

“I’m 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,” Julian Castro told cheering supporters.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, officially kicked off his campaign with a rally in his hometown of San Antonio, where he was mayor for five years.

The ex-housing secretary became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland representative John Delaney.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also started an exploratory committee for president, and four other Democratic senators are taking steady steps toward running. Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, is planning a bid too.

Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, made the campaign announcement at Plaza Guadalupe, less than 200 miles from the US-Mexico border. The impasse over a border wall that Trump made a central promise of his 2016 campaign has led to the longest government shutdown in US history.