Former U.S. HUD Sec. Julian Castro ended his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday.
Down in the polls and not able to break into the top tier of candidates in the crowded primary field, Castro bowed to reality and ended his campaign.
“It’s with profound gratitude to all of our supporters that I suspend my campaign for president today,” Castro announced. “I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. I’m going to keep fighting for an America where everyone counts—I hope you’ll join me in that fight.”
Now 45, Castro has been something of a rising star for Democrats over the last decade though there have been some downturns. Bursting on to the political scene in 2001 when he was elected to San Antonio’s City Council–the youngest councilman in the city’s history–Castro ran for mayor in 2005 but came up short. He bounced back in 2009 to be elected mayor, a job he easily kept winning reelection in 2011 and 2013. In 2014, then-President Barack Obama tapped him to serve as HUD secretary. Castro was a contender to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate back in 2016.
While he was the sole Hispanic candidate in the field and comes from Texas, a potential target for Democrats in the years to come, Castro was not much of a factor in the presidential race. Even with Castro now headed to the sidelines, the field of candidates remains large as Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, businessman Tom Steyer, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, writer Marianne Williamson and businessman Andrew Yang still running for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
