IN SAN DIEGO, CASTRO BACKS WARREN

More than 200 people jammed the back patio of a Barrio Logan bar Saturday night to whoop and holler their support for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren and state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who is seeking reelection.

For others in the crowd, the main attrac- tion was Julián Castro, the former member of President Barack Obama’s cabinet who ran a year-long presidential bid but now campaigns for Warren.

“Julián is the draw,” said Michelle Mosqueda, adding that she also supports Warren. “He stumping for her — my two favorites.”

Melissa Agudelo of City

Heights said she came to hear what reasons Castro might give for Latinos to support Warren.

Castro offered a reason: “We need somebody in November who can beat Donald Trump, and I’m convinced she’s the one who can do it,” he said to loud cheers and whistles.

He praised Warren for her concern for the homeless and for immigrant children separated from parents at border crossings, as well as her promise of “Medicare for all” to replace private insurance plans. Warren was running in fourth place Saturday night in the Nevada presidential caucuses, well behind top finisher Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Gonzalez and Castro shared a small platform in the patio of Border X Brewery, which coincidentally was drawing dozens of patrons helping to celebrate the bar’s fifth anniversary.

Gonzalez supporters turned out, but so did around a dozen protesters who chanted, “Repeal AB5,” referring to her legislation requiring employers to put their independent contractors on the payroll. The law has hurt job opportunities for freelance writers, truckers and others who prefer their independence.

The protesters were booed by the crowd, and Gonzalez taunted them, saying, “We don’t need anti-worker Trump supporters here.”

Gonzalez is running for a final term in the Assembly, but announced earlier this month that she plans to run for California’s secretary of state position in 2022.

Julian Castro