Julián Castro: All-American Man

“In the end, the American dream is not a sprint, or even a marathon, but a relay. Our families don't always cross the finish line in the span of one generation. But each generation passes on to the next the fruits of their labor…. And my mother fought hard for civil rights so that instead of a mop, I could hold this microphone.” —Julián Castro

The crowd erupted in applause.

Best known for delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention for President Obama in 2012, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro is now running for president.

Castro’s credentials include the following: graduate of the esteemed Stanford University and Harvard Law School, the former mayor of San Antonio, a member of the House of Representatives, and the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during President Obama’s administration. Such accomplishments are no small feats, as these successes have come only a few generations after his grandmother’s immigration to San Antonio and serve as an inspiration to immigrants. They are a successful embodiment of the American Dream.

Castro, an ardent critic of Donald Trump’s immigration, climate change, and healthcare policies, has risen up as a fervent proponent of climate change recognition, universal pre-K, gun control, universal health care, and comprehensive immigration reform. As the mayor of San Antonio, Castro emphasized the implementation of renewable energy in business and closed down a city coal plant, embracing a 20 percent renewable energy goal. Immediately after entering office, he plans to sign an executive order to recommit the U.S. to the Paris Climate Accord. He founded Café College in 2010, an organization dedicated to providing disadvantaged students with resources needed to pursue higher education by promoting test prep and destigmatizing financial aid services. He has also persuaded voters to approve the introduction of a one-eighth-cent-per-dollar sales tax to establish the first pre-K program for four-year olds in Texas. Pushing for stronger gun control regulation, Castro has advocated for renewing the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (first passed by Congress in 1994 and which expired in 2004) and demanding enforcement of background checks at gun shows. Castro has also condemned the influence of pharmaceutical companies for setting such high prices on health care, and he plans to secure Medicare for all by taxing the wealthiest one percent of Americans. In terms of immigration reform, Castro aims to provide more support for those seeking asylum and citizenship by laying down more efficient legal immigration legislation and reconstructing the culture of Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE).

An emblem of the American Dream and American ideals, Castro is the presidential candidate who will invest in the future of the American people, bringing our policies to the core principles which America was founded upon: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.