Nate Payne - https://prekcaucus-castro.house.gov/
Joaquin Castro is a lawyer and Democratic politician who has represented Texas' 20th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Castro was born on September 16, 1974, and is the twin brother of Julián Castro, a former mayor of San Antonio and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Castro grew up in San Antonio and attended Thomas Jefferson High School. He graduated with honors in Political Science and Communication from Stanford University and earned a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School, where he studied alongside his brother. After college, he worked at the renowned law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld before founding his own firm with Julián Castro in 2005.
Castro was influenced from an early age by his parents' political involvement. His father, Jesse Guzman, was a math teacher, and his mother, Rosie Castro, a community activist. Rosie, who named him after a poem by Rodolfo Gonzales, had a great impact on Joaquin's political formation.
From 2003 to 2013, Joaquin Castro represented the 125th district in the Texas House of Representatives. During this period, he distinguished himself as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee and served on other important committees, including County Affairs and Juvenile Justice. His political career began in 2002 when, at the age of 28, he defeated then-Representative Arthur Reyna in the Democratic primaries and won the general election against Republican Nelson Balido. He was re-elected for five consecutive terms, often without significant opposition.
He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2013, representing a predominantly Hispanic and heavily Democratic district. In his first term, he was chosen as president of the Democratic Bench In Congress, he serves on key committees, such as the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Permanent Intelligence Committee, and is responsible for subcommittees dealing with cybersecurity issues, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and security in the Western Hemisphere.
Castro is an active voice on issues related to immigrant rights and foreign policy. In 2019, he introduced a resolution to revoke Donald Trump's declaration of national emergency over the southern border. The measure was approved by Congress, but vetoed by the then president.
He also drew attention by releasing the names of local donors to Trump's campaign, criticizing their contributions as support for an agenda he considers discriminatory. Despite the controversy, he defended his action as part of the public debate.
Castro has held prominent roles in the Democratic Party, including chairing the Congressional Hispanic Caucus during the 116th Congress. In 2021, he was chosen as one of the impeachment managers in Trump's second trial. In addition, he voted consistently aligned with Joe Biden's administration, according to voting analyses.
Castro founded several caucuses, including the U.S.-Japan Caucus, the ASEAN Caucus, and the Caucus on Early Childhood Education. He is also one of the founders of the Bipartisan Caucus on Preschool Education and Child Care. He is active in initiatives related to equal educational opportunities and the strengthening of international relations.
Joaquin is married to Anna Flores, with whom he has three children. To differentiate himself from his twin brother Julián, he grew a beard in 2019. In February 2023, he underwent surgery to remove neuroendocrine tumors, but said that the prognosis is positive.
In addition to his political activity, Castro was a visiting professor of law at St. Mary's University and an adjunct professor at Trinity University. He also serves on the boards of educational institutions and non-profit organizations, such as the National College Advising Corps.
Joaquin Castro is recognized for his advocacy for underserved communities, his commitment to education, and his fight for progressive and inclusive public policies.
