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Joaquin Castro

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Joaquin Castro
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromTexas's20thdistrict
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byCharlie Gonzalez
Member of theTexas House of Representatives
from the 125th district
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byArt Reyna
Succeeded byJustin Rodriguez
Personal details
Born(1974-09-16)September 16, 1974(age 49)
San Antonio,Texas,U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Anna Flores
​
(m.2013)​
Children3
Parent
RelativesJulian Castro(twin brother)
EducationStanford University(BA)
Harvard University(JD)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Joaquin Castro's voice
Joaquin Castro commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Thursday Luncheon Group
Recorded February 1, 2023

Joaquin Castro(born September 16, 1974)[1]is an American lawyer andDemocraticpolitician who has representedTexas's 20th congressional districtin theUnited States House of Representativessince 2013. The district includes just over half of his nativeSan Antonio.He currently serves on theUnited States House Committee on Foreign Affairsand theUnited States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

From 2003 to 2013, Castro represented the 125th district in theTexas House of Representatives.[2]While in the state legislature, he served as vice-chair of the Higher Education Committee and was a member of the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee. He also previously served on other committees, such as County Affairs, Border & International Affairs, and Juvenile Justice & Family Issues.[2]

Joaquin served as campaign chair for hisidentical twinbrother,Julian Castro,during his2020 presidential campaign.[3][4]

Early life, education, and early career[edit]

Castro was born and raised in San Antonio and attendedMemorial High School.He was born a minute after his twin brotherJulian.[5]He has said that his interest in public service developed at a young age from watching his parents' involvement in political campaigns and civic causes. His father, Jessie Guzman, is a retiredmathematicsteacher from theEdgewood Independent School Districton San Antonio's west side, and his mother, Marie "Rosie" Castro, is a community activist. Jessie and Rosie never married. Castro's mother named him afterRodolfo Gonzales's poemI Am Joaquin.[6]He graduated with honors fromStanford Universitywith aBachelor of Artsinpolitical scienceandcommunicationsand earned aJuris Doctorwith his twin brother atHarvard Law School.[7]After law school, the brothers both worked for the law firmAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feldbefore starting their own firm in 2005.[8]

Texas House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

Castro ran for Texas's 125th House district seat in 2002. In the Democratic primary, he defeated incumbent Representative Arthur Reyna, 64% to 36%.[9]In the general election, he defeatedRepublicannominee Nelson Balido, 60% to 40%. He was 28 at the time of his election.[10]In 2004, he was reelected unopposed.[11]In 2006, he was reelected to a third term, defeating Balido, 58% to 38%.[11]In 2008, he was reelected to a fourth term unopposed.[11]In 2010, he was reelected to a fifth term, defeatingLibertarianJeffrey Blunt, 78% to 22%.[11]

Committee assignments[edit]

  • County Affairs
  • Higher Education (Vice Chair)[12]
  • Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
  • Oversight of Higher Ed Governance, Excellence & Transparency[13]

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

In June 2011, Castro announced his candidacy for the newly drawnTexas's 35th congressional district's seat in theU.S. House of Representatives.He was initially set to challenge fellow Democrat and nine-term incumbentLloyd Doggett,whose home inAustinhad been drawn into the district, in the Democratic primary,[14]but on November 28, afterCharlie Gonzalezof the neighboring20th districtannounced his retirement after seven terms, Castro announced that he would run instead for the 20th district seat. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary, all but assuring him of winning the general election in this heavily Democratic, Hispanic-majority district. At the2012 Democratic National Convention,he introduced his brother Julián as keynote speaker.[12]In November, Castro defeated Republican nominee David Rosa 64%-34%.[15]becoming only the fifth person to represent this district since its creation in 1935.

In 2017,San Antonio Express-Newscolumnist Bruce Davidson questioned Castro's decision not to enter the2018 U.S. Senate raceagainst Republican incumbentTed Cruz,a2016presidential candidate. Davidson predicted that Castro could have defeated the announced candidate,Beto O'Rourke,representative ofTexas's 16th congressional districtbased inEl Paso,for the Democratic nomination. "Castro is said to be ambitious, but will he ever have a better chance to move up than in the Trump-era against Ted Cruz?," Davidson wrote. He added that Texas's other senator, RepublicanJohn Cornyn,would have taken advantage of a similar opportunity to run. In 2002, Cornyn, the state's then one-termattorney general,filed to succeed retiring Republican SenatorPhil Gramm,while two other Republican hopefuls,Henry BonillaofTexas's 23rd congressional districtandDavid Dewhurst,theland commissionerand later thelieutenant governor,vacillated and lost their chances to become a senator. Bonilla was defeated for House reelection after redistricting in 2006, and Dewhurst lost the 2012 Republican runoff Senate election to Cruz.[16]

Tenure[edit]

Representative Castro preparing to deliver a keynote speech atLULAC.
Castro with Japanese Prime MinisterShinzō Abein August 2015

Castro was sworn into office on January 3, 2013, becoming a member of the113th United States Congress.He was chosen as the president of the freshman class of Democrats in the 113th Congress.[17]

In the114th Congress,House Democratic WhipSteny Hoyernamed Castro aChief Deputy Whip.[18]During the2016 presidential election,Castro served as a surrogate forHillary Clinton's campaign.[19]He was selected as chair of theCongressional Hispanic Caucusfor the116th Congress.[20]

On January 12, 2019, Castro introduced and endorsed his twin brother, former HUD SecretaryJulián Castro,at the launch rally of Julián's2020 presidential campaign.

In February 2019, Castro authored House Joint Resolution 46[21]to overturn Trump's declaration of aNational Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States,under which Trump said he would divert funds from other sources to construct awallalong the U.S. and Mexico border.[22]The bill passed the House by a vote of 245–182 on February 15, and the Senate by a vote of 59–41 on March 15.[23][24]Trumpvetoedthe Joint Resolution on March 15.[25]

In August 2019, Castro tweeted the names and employers of 44 San Antonio residents who had given the maximum allowable contribution to Trump's reelection campaign. He said it was "sad to see so many San Antonians" whose "contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as 'invaders'."[26]The information came from publicly available lists published by the Federal Election Commission. Republicans denounced the tweet, saying that such a "target list" invites harassment and could even encourage violence.[27]

In July 2020, following House Foreign Affairs Committee chairpersonEliot Engel's defeat for reelection, Castro declared his candidacy for chair. The other candidates were the eventually victoriousGregory MeeksandBrad Sherman,who had defeated former chairpersonHoward Bermanin a 2012 primary.[28][citation needed]

On January 12, 2021, Castro was named animpeachment manager(prosecutor) forTrump's second impeachment trial.[29]

Castro was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of theFiscal Responsibility Act of 2023in the House.[30]

Castro votes with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time, according toFiveThirtyEightanalysis completed in January 2023.[31]

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus memberships[edit]

Personal life[edit]

Representative Joaquin Castro (left) and his twin brother, then-San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro (right), at theLBJ Presidential Library.

Family[edit]

Castro is the son of Jesse Guzman and Rosie Castro and the identical twin brother ofJulián Castro,the formermayor of San Antonioand the 16thUnited States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;[4]he is one minute younger than Julián.[36]In 2019, Joaquin grew a beard so that people could distinguish him from his brother.[37]

In 2013, Castro became engaged to Anna Flores. Julián Castro made the announcement on his Facebook page.[38]The couple had a daughter in 2013,[39][40]a son in 2016,[41]and a second daughter in 2022.[42]

Other work and board memberships[edit]

While in theTexas Legislature,Castro practiced law in San Antonio. He has also been avisiting professorof law atSt. Mary's Universityand anadjunct professoratTrinity Universityin San Antonio.[43]He sits on several boards ofnonprofit organizationsand institutions of higher education, including the National College Advising Corps.

Health[edit]

In February 2023, Castro had surgery to removeneuroendocrine tumorsand described his prognosis as "good" afterward.[44]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Vote Smart - The Voter's Self Defense System".Vote Smart.Archived fromthe originalon December 9, 2006.RetrievedAugust 29,2019.
  2. ^ab"Texas House of Representatives membership summary".Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2010.RetrievedAugust 29,2019.
  3. ^Merica, Dan (January 12, 2019)."Julián Castro officially announces 2020 presidential bid".CNN.RetrievedJanuary 13,2019.
  4. ^abGillman, Todd J (July 25, 2014)."Julián Castro to take office Monday as Housing Secretary".Dallas Morning News.Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2016.RetrievedJuly 28,2014.
  5. ^"Not My Job: We Quiz The Secretary Of Urban Development On Urban Dictionary".July 16, 2016.RetrievedApril 22,2024.
  6. ^Castro, Julián (2018).Un Viaje Improbable.Little, Brown and Company. p. 32.ISBN9780316252126.
  7. ^Representatives, Texas House of."Texas House of Representatives".house.texas.gov.
  8. ^"TRIBPEDIA: Julián Castro".The Texas Tribune.RetrievedAugust 29,2013.
  9. ^"Our Campaigns - TX State House 125- D Primary Race - Mar 12, 2002".ourcampaigns.
  10. ^"Our Campaigns - TX State House 125 Race - Nov 05, 2002".ourcampaigns.
  11. ^abcd"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon January 9, 2014.RetrievedDecember 26,2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^abGarrett, Robert T. (September 4, 2012)."With his twin brother in the spotlight, Joaquin Castro prepares for prominent role of his own".The Dallas Morning News.RetrievedSeptember 5,2012.
  13. ^"Texas Legislature Online - 82nd Legislature - Information for Rep. Joaquin Castro".legis.state.tx.us.
  14. ^Ramshaw, Emily (June 24, 2011)."Castro To Take On Doggett for New Congressional Seat — 2012 Congressional Election".Texas Tribune.RetrievedSeptember 5,2012.
  15. ^"Our Campaigns - TX District 20 Race - Nov 06, 2012".ourcampaigns.
  16. ^Bruce Davidson, "Risk-averse Castro opts out of Senate run",San Antonio Express-News,May 14, 2017, F3.
  17. ^"Joaquin Castro Elected President of Democrat Freshmen of 113th Congress".Fox News.January 7, 2013.
  18. ^French, Lauren (March 9, 2015)."Joaquin Castro climbs higher in Democratic leadership".Politico.RetrievedMarch 31,2016.
  19. ^Shapiro, Ari (March 1, 2016)."Rep. Joaquin Castro On Hillary Clinton's Campaign After Super Tuesday".NPR.RetrievedMarch 31,2016.
  20. ^McPherson, Lindsey (November 30, 2018)."Congressional Hispanic Caucus Selects Joaquin Castro As Next Chairman".RetrievedAugust 29,2019– via rollcall.
  21. ^"H.J.Res.46 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019".Congress.gov.RetrievedMarch 15,2019.
  22. ^"Joaquin Castro Files Legislation to Counter President Trump's National Emergency Declaration".Texas Monthly.February 22, 2019.RetrievedMarch 16,2019.
  23. ^"The Latest: House blocks Trump's emergency declaration".Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon February 27, 2019.
  24. ^Cochrane, Emily; Thrush, Glenn (March 14, 2019)."Senate Rejects Trump's Border Emergency Declaration, Setting Up First Veto".The New York Times.
  25. ^"Trump issues first veto of his presidency, says resolution 'put countless Americans in danger'".CNN.March 15, 2019.RetrievedMarch 15,2019.
  26. ^Schouten, Fredreka (August 7, 2019)."Rep. Joaquin Castro tweets names, employers of Trump donors in San Antonio".CNN.RetrievedSeptember 4,2019.
  27. ^Sheth, Sonam (August 8, 2019)."Joaquin Castro was called 'dangerous' by Republicans for tweeting the names of Trump donors, but Democrats say people should be able to follow the money".Business Insider.RetrievedSeptember 4,2019.
  28. ^"Castro launches bid for House Foreign Affairs gavel".July 21, 2020. Archived fromthe originalon July 22, 2020.
  29. ^"Pelosi Names Impeachment Managers".Speaker Nancy Pelosi.January 12, 2021. Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  30. ^Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023)."Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no".The Hill.RetrievedJune 6,2023.
  31. ^Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021)."Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?".FiveThirtyEight.RetrievedNovember 15,2023.
  32. ^"HPSCI Minority Members - U.S. House of Representatives".intelligence.house.gov.Archived fromthe originalon January 28, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 2,2017.
  33. ^"Members".New Democrat Coalition. Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 6,2018.
  34. ^"Members".Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Archived fromthe originalon May 15, 2018.RetrievedMay 15,2018.
  35. ^"Members".U.S. - Japan Caucus.RetrievedDecember 1,2018.
  36. ^"Not My Job: We Quiz The Secretary Of Urban Development On Urban Dictionary".NPR.org.RetrievedAugust 29,2019.
  37. ^Hayes, Christal; Cummings, William."'I'm not running for president!': Rep. Joaquin Castro hopes beard saves him from being confused with twin ".USA TODAY.RetrievedAugust 29,2019.
  38. ^Gonzalez, John W. (June 18, 2013)."Mayor says Congressman Castro engaged".mySA.
  39. ^Source, The Reliable (December 15, 2013)."Love, etc.: Rep. Joaquin Castro and wife welcome a baby girl"– via washingtonpost.
  40. ^Joaquin Castro [@JoaquinCastrotx] (December 15, 2013)."Anna & I proudly welcoming our first child Andrea Elena in #SanAntonio this a.m. Thank you to all the well wishers!"(Tweet) – viaTwitter./photo/1
  41. ^Joaquin Castro [@JoaquinCastrotx] (February 2, 2016)."Anna and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Roman Victor Castro"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  42. ^Ibañez, David (May 3, 2022)."U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro announces birth of baby girl".KSAT.RetrievedJune 1,2022.
  43. ^Baugh, Josh (September 24, 2015)."Castro brothers' legacy still being written".San Antonio Express-News.RetrievedMarch 25,2021.
  44. ^Papp, Justin (February 27, 2023)."Rep. Castro prognosis 'good' after surgery for gastrointestinal tumors".Roll Call.RetrievedFebruary 27,2023.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toJoaquín Castro.
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Art Reyna
 Member of theTexas House of Representatives
from the 125th district
2003–2013 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromTexas's 20th congressional district
2013–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chair of theCongressional Hispanic Caucus
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
125th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joaquin_Castro&oldid=1232098391"