SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro joined the 2020 presidential race Saturday as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge President Donald Trump accelerates, while anticipation grows around bigger names still considering a White House run.

“I’m running for president because it’s time for new leadership, because it’s time for new energy and it’s time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I’ve had are available to every American,” he told cheering supporters.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, officially kicked off his campaign with a rally in his hometown of San Antonio, where he was mayor for five years. The ex-housing secretary became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland Rep. John Delaney.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also started an exploratory committee for president, and four other Democratic senators are taking steady steps toward running. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, is planning a bid, too.

Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, made the campaign announcement at Plaza Guadalupe on San Antonio’s middle-class west side, less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. The impasse over a border wall that Trump made a central promise of his 2016 campaign has led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Trump was at the Texas border on Thursday to press his case for a wall that he said would help solve a humanitarian and security crisis at the border.

Joining Castro at the campaign kickoff was his twin brother, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, chairman of the Hispanic congressional caucus and a frequent Trump critic.

The Democratic field is starting to take shape even though the first primary elections are more than a year away.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California this past week published a memoir , a staple of presidential candidates. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke is doing little to dim speculation that he might jump into a field that has no clear front-runner.

Castro is aware he lacks the name recognition of potential 2020 rivals or the buzz surrounding O’Rourke, whose flirtations with 2020 have tantalized donors and activists after a close race last year against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

But Castro, who has repeatedly dismissed talk that an O’Rourke candidacy would complicate his own chances, has framed the neighborhood and his upbringing as the story of an underdog.

Castro was raised by a local Latina activist. After a brief career in law, he was elected mayor of the nation’s seventh-largest city at 34. It wasn’t long before Democrats nationally embraced him as a star in the making, particularly one from Texas, where a booming Hispanic population is rapidly changing the state’s demographics and improving the party’s fortunes.

Castro delivered the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Two years later, President Barack Obama picked him to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He was on the short list of Hillary Clinton’s potential running mates in 2016. During Castro’s trip this past week to Nevada, one state Latino business leader told Castro that he should again be a top contender for vice president if his campaign falls short.

Like other Democrats running, Castro has said he will not accept money from political action committees tied to corporations and unions, and he has sought to introduce himself to voters as a champion for universal health care and affordable housing.</s>SAN ANTONIO — Julián Castro, a former U.S. Cabinet secretary, launched his presidential campaign in the hometown where he served as mayor for three terms. The announcement surprised few, but puts him near the front of what is expected to be a jam-packed field of White House hopefuls.

Making the announcement at Plaza Guadalupe in the San Antonio's West Side neighborhood where he grew up, Castro said in English and Spanish that he is running for president.

The grandson of an immigrant from Mexico, Castro said his grandmother could have never imagined that two generations later one son would be a member of Congress and another would be standing before the crowd to say, "I am a candidate for the president of the United States of America." Castro, who was referring to his twin brother U.S. Rep. Joaquín Castro, then repeated his candidacy in Spanish.

Dozens of other Democrats who hope to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020 will likely follow fast after Castro. That field could include U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, Texas, who rose to national fame in a failed bid for the U.S. Senate and is scheduled next month for an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

That could be troublesome, in particular for Castro when it comes to raising money at least in Texas.

But Castro’s early-out-of-the-gate status gives the still-forming Democratic field an early appearance of racial diversity with a candidate whose ancestral roots are in Mexico — the country that Trump, in his 2015 presidential candidacy announcement, said was sending rapists, drug traffickers and criminals to the U.S.

In an interview with NBC News this week, Castro described himself as the “antidote” to Trump.

Castro made the announcement flanked by his wife Erica Lira Castro, his children Carina and Cristian. His mother Rosie, a Chicano activist who took him to political activities as a young boy introduced him as a son of San Antonio, son of Texas, a son of the West Side (of San Antonio), and a son of this country.

His identical twin also spoke, saying although many of the Democrats who may run are friends, his brother has the best ideas and the biggest heart.

Castro has a lot of work to do to introduce himself to Americans — or reminding them who he is.

Other potential candidates, such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has formed an exploratory committee, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey and O’Rourke, have had the benefit of the being in public office and the national spotlight recently.

Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii announced Friday that she would also run for president.

But Castro's candidacy comes just after the party saw an increased Latino turnout in the 2018 midterms, helping the party to take control of the U.S. House.

"There is a real frustration in our community and desire to show we can’t be bullied,” said Oscar Ramirez, a Democratic strategist. “He has a real opportunity to show that our community has some real power and can’t be pushed around.”

After Obama finished his second term and Clinton lost, Castro left Washington and returned to Texas, where he wrote his memoir “An Unlikely Journey: Waking from my American Dream” and taught university courses in Austin.

He passed on running for Texas governor last year, as did many other Democrats. But Castro kept his hand in the political arena, forming a PAC to contribute to candidates, such as including Stacey Abrams, who lost a bid for Alabama governor and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and potential future backers.

Castro burst on the national scene in 2012 when he delivered the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. But Hillary Clinton passed on naming him her running mate in 2016.

Castro was elected San Antonio’s mayor in 2009 and re-elected to two more terms before Obama tapped him to be secretary of HUD, the federal agency that oversees public housing, which Castro lived in during his youth.

At 26, Castro was the youngest person elected to the City Council of San Antonio, the nation’s seventh largest city.

Raised by his grandmother Victoriana and mother, Castro overcame his family’s modest upbringing to attend Stanford and Harvard Law School.

“He’s got an amazing story to tell,” said Democratic consultant Larry Gonzalez, a principal of the Raben Group in Washington. “The Castro family story is the quintessential American story. It is one that will resonate with a lot of Americans who are looking for opportunities that are slipping away. Julian will run a campaign that will address that and resonate with Americans.”</s>SAN ANTONIO — Assailing President Donald Trump for “a crisis of leadership,” former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro joined the 2020 presidential race Saturday as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge the incumbent accelerates.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, made immigration a centerpiece of his announcement in his hometown of San Antonio, less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Two days after the president visited the border to promote his promised wall, Castro mocked Trump for claiming that the U.S. faces an “invasion” from its ally to the south. “He called it a national security crisis,” Castro said. “Well, there is a crisis today. It’s a crisis of leadership. Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation.”

Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, said he was running for president “because it’s time for new leadership, because it’s time for new energy and it’s time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I’ve had are available to every American.”

He made the announcement during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and as the field of 2020 contenders widens and anticipation grows around bigger names still considering runs.

Castro was San Antonio’s mayor for five years and U.S. housing secretary in President Barack Obama’s second term. He became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland Rep. John Delaney.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also started an exploratory committee for president, and four other Democratic senators are taking steady steps toward running. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, said this week she is planning a bid, too.

For his part, Trump said he isn’t worried about the burgeoning field of Democratic opponents. He has already announced that he’s running for re-election.

“I love what I see,” Trump said Saturday night when asked about the competition during a telephone interview with Fox News Channel. He recited a list of what he views as his accomplishments, including low unemployment, tax cuts and trade deals.

“I don’t know. How does somebody beat that?” the president said.

Asked to identify the one Democrat he’d like to run against, Trump named former Vice President Joe Biden, a two-time presidential candidate who has yet to announce his intentions for 2020.

Castro is getting an early start in trying to stand out. His first trip as a candidate comes Monday, to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, where an outcry has begun as the White House considers diverting disaster funding to pay for the wall.

The impasse over paying for a border wall that Trump made a central part of his 2016 campaign has led to the partial federal closure. That stalemate, along with Trump’s hard-line immigration stands, drew sharp rebukes from Castro.

“There are serious issues that need to be addressed in our broken immigration system, but seeking asylum is a legal right. And the cruel policies of this administration are doing real and lasting harm,” he said.

He argued for securing the border in a “smart and humane way.”

“There is no way in hell that caging babies is a smart or a right or good way to do it. We say no to building a wall and say yes to building community. We say no to scapegoating immigrants,” he said.

Joining Castro at the campaign kickoff was his twin brother, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, chairman of the Hispanic congressional caucus and a frequent Trump critic. The Spanish-style plaza in the Castro twins’ boyhood neighborhood was packed with supporters who streamed through the gates between a mariachi band. Castro had said leading up to his announcement that a Latino candidate was a must in the 2020 field.

That group of hopefuls is starting to take shape even though the first primary elections are more than a year away.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California this past week published a memoir , a staple of presidential candidates. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke is doing little to dim speculation that he might jump into a field that has no clear front-runner.

Castro is aware he lacks the name recognition of potential 2020 rivals or the buzz surrounding O’Rourke, whose flirtations with 2020 have tantalized donors and activists after a close race last year against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Even some supporters at Castro’s announcement could be torn if O’Rourke gets in the race. Diana Delrosario, a social worker in San Antonio, warned she might cry while she recounted how Castro once went out of his way as mayor to help wheel her mother out of a restaurant.

“I have this heart for Julian. But it’s going to be a big discussion if Beto decides to run,” said Delrosario, 45.

Castro, who has repeatedly dismissed talk that an O’Rourke candidacy would complicate his own chances, has framed the neighborhood and his upbringing as the story of an underdog.

He was raised by a local Latina activist, and after a brief career in law, was elected mayor of the nation’s seventh-largest city at 34. It wasn’t long before Democrats nationally embraced him as a star in the making, particularly one from Texas, where a booming Hispanic population is rapidly changing the state’s demographics and improving the party’s fortunes.

Castro delivered the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Two years later, Obama picked him to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He was on the short list of Hillary Clinton’s potential running mates in 2016. During Castro’s trip this past week to Nevada, one state Latino business leader told Castro that he should again be a top contender for vice president if his campaign falls short.

Like other Democrats running, Castro has said he will not accept money from political action committees tied to corporations and unions, and he has sought to introduce himself to voters as a champion for universal health care and affordable housing.

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Assailing President Donald Trump for “a crisis of leadership,” former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro joined the 2020 presidential race Saturday as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge the incumbent accelerates.

Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, made immigration a centerpiece of his announcement in his hometown of San Antonio, less than 200 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

Two days after the president visited the border to promote his promised wall, Castro mocked Trump for claiming that the U.S. faces an “invasion” from its ally to the south.

“He called it a national security crisis,” Castro said. “Well, there is a crisis today. It’s a crisis of leadership. Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation.”

Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, said he was running for president “because it’s time for new leadership, because it’s time for new energy and it’s time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I’ve had are available to every American.”

He made the announcement as a government shutdown drags into the longest in U.S. history, and as the field of 2020 contenders widens and anticipation grows around bigger names still considering runs.

Castro was San Antonio’s mayor for five years and U.S. housing secretary in President Barack Obama’s second term. He became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland Rep. John Delaney.

Others in the race

Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also started an exploratory committee for president.

Warren spoke Saturday in New Hampshire to about 450 people at Manchester Community College, taking aim at the “wealthy and well-connected” and championing economic reforms to benefit the middle and lower classes. She highlighted anti-corruption legislation she has proposed, and advocated for reforms to health care, student debt and the minimum wage.

She also called for an end to the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. And she told reporters that Democrats need to talk about their “affirmative visions” instead of the man they want to defeat, President Donald Trump.

Four other Democratic senators are taking steady steps toward running. Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, said this week she is planning a bid, too.

Castro is getting an early start in trying to stand out. His first trip as a candidate comes Monday, to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, where an outcry has begun as the White House considers diverting disaster funding to pay for the wall.

The impasse over paying for a border wall that Trump made a central part of his 2016 campaign has led to the partial federal closure. That stalemate, along with Trump’s hard-line immigration stands, drew sharp rebukes from Castro.

“There are serious issues that need to be addressed in our broken immigration system, but seeking asylum is a legal right. And the cruel policies of this administration are doing real and lasting harm,” he said.

He argued for securing the border in a “smart and humane way.”

“There is no way in hell that caging babies is a smart or a right or good way to do it. We say no to building a wall and say yes to building community. We say no to scapegoating immigrants,” he said.

Joining Castro at the campaign kickoff was his twin brother, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, chairman of the Hispanic congressional caucus and a frequent Trump critic. The Spanish-style plaza in the Castro twins’ boyhood neighborhood was packed with supporters who streamed through the gates between a mariachi band. Castro had said leading up to his announcement that a Latino candidate was a must in the 2020 field.

That group of hopefuls is starting to take shape even though the first primary elections are more than a year away.

Sen. Kamala Harris of California this past week published a memoir, a staple of presidential candidates. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke is doing little to dim speculation that he might jump into a field that has no clear front-runner.

Castro is aware he lacks the name recognition of potential 2020 rivals or the buzz surrounding O’Rourke, whose flirtations with 2020 have tantalized donors and activists after a close race last year against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Even some supporters at Castro’s announcement could be torn if O’Rourke gets in the race. Diana Delrosario, a social worker in San Antonio, warned she might cry while she recounted how Castro once went out of his way as mayor to help wheel her mother out of a restaurant.

“I have this heart for Julian. But it’s going to be a big discussion if Beto decides to run,” said Delrosario, 45.

Castro, who has repeatedly dismissed talk that an O’Rourke candidacy would complicate his own chances, has framed the neighborhood and his upbringing as the story of an underdog.

He was raised by a local Latina activist, and after a brief career in law, was elected mayor of the nation’s seventh-largest city at 34. It wasn’t long before Democrats nationally embraced him as a star in the making, particularly one from Texas, where a booming Hispanic population is rapidly changing the state’s demographics and improving the party’s fortunes.

Castro delivered the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Two years later, President Barack Obama picked him to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He was on the short list of Hillary Clinton’s potential running mates in 2016. During Castro’s trip this past week to Nevada, one state Latino business leader told Castro that he should again be a top contender for vice president if his campaign falls short.

Like other Democrats running, Castro has said he will not accept money from political action committees tied to corporations and unions, and he has sought to introduce himself to voters as a champion for universal health care and affordable housing.</s>A fifth democratic challenger has officially entered the race for 2020. Julián Castro launched his bid for the White House on Saturday, becoming the first Latino candidate in an increasingly crowded field. The 44-year-old Castro previously served as secretary of housing and urban development in the Obama administration.

“When my grandmother got here almost 100 years ago, I’m sure she never could have imagined that just two generations later… [I’d say] these words: I am a candidate for president of the United States of America,” Castro declared during his rally at Plaza Guadalupe in San Antonio, Texas. He had previously released a video announcing his exploratory committee in December.

Castro becomes the fifth Democrat candidate to make a formal announcement for their 2020 bid, following Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, West Virginia state senator Richard Ojeda, Maryland congressman John Delaney and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren has also confirmed an exploratory committee for her own 2020 presidential campaign as well.

Recently, Castro gave an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos calling for investments in education, universal higher education and Medicare for All. His announcement speech also covered the need to address climate change, and the issue of border security. “Yes, we must have border security, but there is a smart and humane way to do it,” said Castro, whose grandmother was born in Mexico. “And there is no way in hell that caging children is keeping us safe.”

Castro was the youngest person elected to San Antonio City Council in 2001, and later became the youngest in the Obama cabinet at age 39. He was elected San Antonio’s mayor in 2009, delivered the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, and made the short list of candidates for Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016. Julián is also twin brother to democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and is expected to be involved in his campaign.</s>Assailing US President Donald Trump for "a crisis of leadership," former Obama Cabinet member Julian Castro has joined the 2020 presidential race as the rush of Democrats making early moves to challenge the incumbent accelerates.

Mr Castro, who could end up being the only Latino in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic field, made immigration a centrepiece of his announcement in his hometown of San Antonio, 320 kilometres from the US-Mexico border.

Two days after the President visited the border to promote his promised wall, Mr Castro mocked Mr Trump for claiming that the US faces an "invasion" from its ally to the south. "He called it a national security crisis," Mr Castro said.

"Well, there is a crisis today. It's a crisis of leadership. Donald Trump has failed to uphold the values of our great nation."

Mr Castro, the 44-year-old grandson of a Mexican immigrant, said he was running for president "because it's time for new leadership, because it's time for new energy and it's time for a new commitment to make sure that the opportunities that I've had are available to every American".

He made the announcement as a government shutdown dragged into the longest in US history, and as the field of 2020 contenders widens and anticipation grows around bigger names still considering runs.

Mr Castro was San Antonio's mayor for five years and US housing secretary in Barack Obama's second term. He became the second Democrat to formally enter race, after former Maryland Representative John Delaney.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also started an exploratory committee for president, and four other Democratic senators are taking steady steps toward running.

Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, said this week she was also planning a bid.

Mr Castro is getting an early start in trying to stand out.

His first trip as a candidate will be to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, where an outcry has begun as the White House considers diverting disaster funding to pay for the border wall.

The impasse over paying for a border wall that Mr Trump made a central part of his 2016 campaign has led to the partial federal closure.

That stalemate, along with Mr Trump's hard-line immigration stands, drew sharp rebukes from Mr Castro.

"There are serious issues that need to be addressed in our broken immigration system, but seeking asylum is a legal right. And the cruel policies of this administration are doing real and lasting harm," he said.

He argued for securing the border in a "smart and humane way".

"There is no way in hell that caging babies is a smart or a right or good way to do it. We say no to building a wall and say yes to building community. We say no to scapegoating immigrants," he said.

Joining Mr Castro at the campaign kick off was his twin brother, Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro, chairman of the Hispanic congressional caucus and a frequent critic of Mr Trump.

Mr Castro had said leading up to his announcement that a Latino candidate was a must in the 2020 field.

He was raised by a local Latina activist, and after a brief career in law, was elected mayor of the nation's seventh-largest city at 34.

It was not long before Democrats nationally embraced him as a star in the making, particularly one from Texas, where a booming Hispanic population is rapidly changing the state's demographics and improving the party's fortunes.

Mr Castro delivered the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Two years later, Mr Obama picked him to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

He was on the short list of Hillary Clinton's potential running mates in 2016.

Like other Democrats running, Mr Castro has said he will not accept money from political action committees tied to corporations and unions, and he has sought to introduce himself to voters as a champion for universal health care and affordable housing.</s>Former San Antonio Mayor and Obama administration official Julian Castro formally announced he’ll run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, attempting to get an early jump on what’s expected to be a crowded field of candidates.

Castro has been considered a rising star in the Democratic Party — he was a contender to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016 — but he’ll be entering a race that’s likely to include candidates with bigger national profiles and well-established fundraising operations.

“We’re going to make sure that the promise of America is available to everyone,’’ Castro said before a cheering crowd in his home town of San Antonio, Texas.

Castro took the first step toward a run in December when he formed an exploratory committee that allowed him to raise and spend a limited amount of money to test whether he can generate support for an official bid.

At 44, Castro will be one of the youngest candidates in the race, a generation younger than some potential competitors such as Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden. Yet with so many well known contenders considering the race, including fellow Texan Beto O’Rourke, Castro will have to work to stand out. He only barely registers in polls, and sometimes is not included as an option at all.

Warren, of Massachusetts, formed an exploratory committee at the end of last year and has campaigned in Iowa, which in February 2020 will hold the first contest in the months-long slog of caucuses and primaries leading up to the nomination. Former Maryland Representative John Delaney also has formally entered the race.

Among the other possible candidates expected to make decisions soon are Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California. Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard say she plans to run and will soon make a formal announcement.

Castro is a fluent Spanish speaker, a possible advantage in states with large Hispanic populations such as Florida and Arizona. Castro attended public schools in San Antonio before going to Stanford University and then Harvard Law School.

He’ll also be able to tout his experience in the federal government and in running a major city. He was mayor of his hometown of San Antonio from 2009 until 2014, when he joined Obama’s cabinet as secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

If he wins, he’d be the first identical twin elected president. His brother, Joaquin, is a member of the House from Texas.</s>The Obama-era housing secretary would become the most high-profile Democrat to date to officially enter the 2020 presidential race

SAN ANTONIO, USA – Former mayor of San Antonio, Texas and Obama-era cabinet member Julian Castro is expected on Saturday, January 12, to launch his bid to become the nation's first Hispanic president, scheduling his announcement in a border state central to America's immigration debate.

Castro would become the most high-profile Democrat to date to officially enter the 2020 race, which is expected to include a diverse field of candidates eager to challenge President Donald Trump.

But the 44-year-old would be among the underdogs in a political showdown that may well feature heavyweights like former vice president Joe Biden, US senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, and perhaps even billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a progressive Democrat, said Friday she will officially announce her presidential run in the coming days.

Castro's strong oratory skills, experience as Barack Obama's housing secretary and as mayor of the nation's 7th largest city, not to mention his telegenic charisma, could help propel the Texas native into the top tier.

He would also become the third prominent Latino presidential candidate in 4 years, after Republican senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio fought Trump for their party's nomination in 2016.

Castro's candidacy could also help revive Democratic enthusiasm among Latino voters, who supported Hillary Clinton but at a lower rate than Obama.

Trump made immigration a flashpoint of that race, and it remains among the nation's most contentious issues. The US government remains locked in a partial shutdown, soon to begin its fourth week, over Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in border wall funding.

Castro's national profile took off in 2012 when he became the first Latino to give a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

Four years later, he was a finalist to be Clinton's running mate.

Castro, a fierce Trump critic, is a third generation American. Last year he said he probably would not be in the United States if today's strict immigration policies were in place when Castro's grandmother crossed the border as a young girl in 1922.

In his convention speech Castro highlighted "an unlikely journey" that he has lived, including growing up with twin brother Joaquin, who is a US congressman. The phrase became the title of his new memoir that was published last month.

He has kept the contents of his announcement secret, but he is widely expected to reveal his White House ambitions.

"I'll tell you and I'll tell the world what I'm going to do," he said this week on MSNBC.

Castro does not yet have the national recognition of luminaries Biden, Sanders and Warren.

Dena Grayson, a Democratic strategist, said Castro is a "great guy" and "phenomenal public speaker" who has potential broad appeal in states with large numbers of Hispanic voters, like California, Texas and Florida.

But standing out in a crowded field will be "difficult," Grayson added. – Rappler.com</s>San Antonio, United States | AFP | Former mayor of San Antonio, Texas and Obama-era cabinet member Julian Castro is expected Saturday to launch his bid to become the nation’s first Hispanic president, scheduling his announcement in a border state central to America’s immigration debate.

Castro would become the most high-profile Democrat to date to officially enter the 2020 race, which is expected to include a diverse field of candidates eager to challenge President Donald Trump.

But the 44-year-old would be among the underdogs in a political showdown that may well feature heavyweights like former vice president Joe Biden, US senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, and perhaps even billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a progressive Democrat, said Friday she will officially announce her presidential run in the coming days.

Castro’s strong oratory skills, experience as Barack Obama’s housing secretary and as mayor of the nation’s seventh largest city, not to mention his telegenic charisma, could help propel the Texas native into the top tier.

He would also become the third prominent Latino presidential candidate in four years, after Republican senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio fought Trump for their party’s nomination in 2016.

Castro’s candidacy could also help revive Democratic enthusiasm among Latino voters, who supported Hillary Clinton but at a lower rate than Obama.

Trump made immigration a flashpoint of that race, and it remains among the nation’s most contentious issues. The US government remains locked in a partial shutdown, soon to begin its fourth week, over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion in border wall funding.

Castro’s national profile took off in 2012 when he became the first Latino to give a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.

Four years later he was a finalist to be Clinton’s running mate.

Castro, a fierce Trump critic, is a third generation American. Last year he said he probably would not be in the United States if today’s strict immigration policies were in place when Castro’s grandmother crossed the border as a young girl in 1922.</s>Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said Friday she will run for president in 2020.

"I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week," the Hawaii Democrat told CNN's Van Jones during an interview slated to air at 7 p.m. Saturday on CNN's "The Van Jones Show."

Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She is the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress.

"There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve," she said, listing health care access, criminal justice reform and climate change as key platform issues.

"There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace," Gabbard added. "I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement."

Rania Batrice, who was a deputy campaign manager for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and is now a top aide to Gabbard, will be the campaign manager, Batrice says.

In 2015, Gabbard, then a vice-chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, was sharply critical of its then-chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for scheduling just six presidential debates during the 2016 primary election cycle. She later resigned her post as DNC vice chair to become one of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' highest-profile supporters, aligning herself with his populist economic message.

Gabbard has staked out anti-interventionist foreign policy positions in Congress. Her 2017 meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad drew widespread criticism. "Initially, I hadn't planned on meeting him," Gabbard told CNN's Jake Tapper in January of 2017. "When the opportunity arose to meet with him, I did so because I felt it's important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then we've got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace, and that's exactly what we talked about."

Gabbard joins a quickly growing field of Democrats eager to take on President Donald Trump for the presidency.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced on New Year's Eve that she was forming an exploratory committee for a presidential run. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro also formed an exploratory committee and is expected to announce his 2020 plans Saturday.

A number of other potential Democratic candidates, including heavyweights like former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, are currently weighing whether to run for president and are expected to announce their decision soon.
Joining several other Democrats in the race, Julian Castro, who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017, announces his intention to run in the 2020 United States presidential election.