Unpacking the Pros and Cons of Julián Castro

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Photo Credit IG @juliancastrotx

The 2020 presidential election is around the corner and we feel there’s so much more we need to know about Democratic candidate Julián Castro, besides the fact that he is smart, handsome, and could be our first Latino president. Competing against 25 candidates, including the current White House occupant, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Obama administration, must convince the nation with his policy proposals that he is the right one. 

Graduated in Political Science and Communications from Stanford University, Castro’s political career is not new. He interned in the White House during the Clinton administration and beyond serving the country as the youngest member of the Obama Cabinet, the Texas native served as San Antonio’s council member and as the mayor. 

There are a lot of great things we can enlist about this third-generation Mexican-American, but to be fair with the other candidates we unpacked the pros and cons of having Mr. Julián Castro as our new President of the United States. 

What are the Pros?

He is a Progressive Candidate

which means his philosophy is to always aim for the development and to the improvement of the human condition. “I’m not one for trying to make this country anything ‘again,’” Castro said in a meeting in a popular gathering place near the University of New Hampshire. “I don’t want us to go backward. I want us to go forward. I want us to look to the future. With one exception: I want to return integrity and decency to the Oval Office.” He supports Medicare for all, understands the need of abortion rights, agrees with having universal background checks for gun purchases, and much more.

He is Vocal with LGBTQ + Rights

During his time as Mayor of San Antonio, Castro was an avid advocator of the laws affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. In 2013, he signed a non-discrimination ordinance. “Whether you are white or black, Christian or Jew, whether you are straight or gay, San Antonio belongs to you too,” he said. “This is a city that belongs to everyone. This ordinance is about saying there are no second-class citizens in San Antonio.” 

He Condemns Family Separation 

Castro wants to switch undocumented immigration as a civil infraction rather than a criminal one. He also wants that the Customs and Border Enforcement agents focus only on detaining undocumented immigrants if they are a public-safety threat. “Let’s be very clear, the reason that they are separating these little children from their families is that they are using section 1325 of that act, which criminalized crossing over the border, to incarcerate the parents and then separate them,” Castro said during the Democratic debate.

He is Pro Black Lives Matter

“I was in Charleston not too long ago,” Castro said according to the New York Magazine, “and I remembered that Dylann Roof went to the Mother Emanuel AME church, and he murdered nine people who were worshiping, and then he was apprehended by police without incident. Well, but what about Eric Garner and Tamir Rice and Laquan McDonald and Sandra Bland and Pamela Turner and Antonio Arce? I’m proud that I’m the only candidate so far that has put forward legislation that would reform our policing system in America and make sure that no matter what the color of your skin is, that you’re treated the same, including Latinos who are mistreated too often times by police.” 

He Wants to Raise the Minimum Wage 

Julian Castro Campaign
Photo Credit IG @juliancastrotx

In May, he rallied with the Fight for $15 movement to make sure the lowest-paid workers in the country can afford rent. “We need a living wage,” he said as reported by the Charlotte Observer. “In this country, if you work 40 hours a week, you should be able to provide for your family. You can’t do that on a minimum wage that is just over $7 per hour.” 

He Wants to Rejoin the U.S. in the Paris Climate Agreements 

According to the PRI, during a meet-and-greet at Crackskulls Bookstore and Coffee House in Newmarket, Castro explained his climate agenda and why he thinks a green economy can be strong. “The harder part is, I believe, that we need to invest in a big way in sustainability,” he said. “I like the concept of the Green New Deal, for instance, because I don’t think that we have to choose between protecting our planet and creating jobs and opportunity.” 

“There is no reason that China or any other country should beat the United States when it comes to actual jobs as we embrace renewable energy and we do the right thing,” he added. “And I’m absolutely committed to making those investments and going towards zero on carbon emissions.”

What are the Cons?

He Isn’t That Well Known

Let’s be honest, the more people know who you are, the bigger the chances. According to the Electoral College, a majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect any President. In case none of the candidates receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president — and that’s nerve wracking! 

His Biggest Opponent is Fellow Texan Beto O’Rourke 

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Photo Credit IG @betoorourke

Known for his social media buzz, O’Rourke can easily stand out in the race leaving Castro in the shadows.

The Democratic Party has a lot of Old Members 

This means that we are unsure if the old school is ready or willing to nominate and elect Castro as a potential contender. 

Lack of Experience

He hasn’t served as a governor, senator, or vice president like the rest of the Democratic nominees: according to Politico, the 2020 race has plenty of candidates with more polished résumés than Castro. But this shouldn’t be an issue because before taking office, our current President was the star of a reality show. 

Whether you decide or not to give your vote to this candidate, remember that the United States needs someone with inclusive and smart ideas, plus a kind and warm heart. We must keep away those with divisive statements and policies that only favors the rich and powerful and incite the violence.

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