For Immediate Release: Monday, January 6, 2019
Contact: Sawyer Hackett, Communications Director

Secretary Julián Castro Endorses Senator Elizabeth Warren for President

SAN ANTONIO, TX (January 6, 2019) – On Monday, January 6, 2019, former Obama Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, Julián Castro, endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren for President of the United States. In a video released Monday, the former presidential candidate explained why he believes Senator Warren is the most qualified, best-equipped candidate to win the nomination, defeat Donald Trump, and build a nation where everyone counts. 

"Theres one candidate I see who's unafraid to fight like hell to make sure America's promise will be there for everyone," said Secretary Julián Castro in the video. "Who will make sure that no matter where you live in America  or where your family came from in the world, you have a path to opportunity too. That's why I'm proud to endorse Elizabeth Warren for President."

Following his endorsement, Secretary Castro will travel to New York to campaign alongside Senator Warren at a joint rally at Brooklyn’s King Theatre

As a former mayor of San Antonio, Texas, HUD Secretary under President Obama, and groundbreaking presidential candidate, Secretary Castro is among the most high-profile endorsers in 2020, and only the second endorsement from a former 2020 presidential candidate. Secretary Castro inspired millions with his historic campaign—distinguished for his efforts to fight for the most vulnerable people, marginalized communities, the poor, and those left out of the political process. 
 

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Ed. Note: The Warren campaign packaged the endorsement in a video of Castro coming to visit (or pay homage to) Sen. Warren at her home.  The video likely isn't eligible for an Oscar, but it is a good bit of storytelling.  Warren greets Castro at the door — the dog Bailey is there too — and they hug, then sit down at the kitchen counter with beverages and discuss the campaign and their shared vision.  There are nice touches such as an early scene of the dog looking out the window as if waiting for Castro and a close up of Warren's "Votes for Women" mug.  After they finish talking they hug and Castro leaves; Warren at the top of the stairs, accompanied by Bailey, waves goodbye.  (There is a bit more to the video an introductory bit about Castro and scenes of Warren on the trail).



3:23 video
My story wouldn't be possible without the strong women who came before me.  My grandmother, Victoria, came to the United States at seven years old.  She taught her family the value of hard work as she cleaned houses and worked as a maid.  She passed on those values of hard work and perseverance to my mother, a single mom to myself and my twin brother, Joaquin.  And in just two generations, just two generations after my grandmother arrived here, I had the honor of serving in President Obama's Cabinet and the honor of running for president of the United States.

I got into public service because I wanted to make sure that more people coulld have the kind of opportunity that I felt blessed to have in life.  But that doesn't happen by accident.  It happens when you have good leaders working to make that opportunity possible.

There's one candidate I see who's unafraid to fight like hell to make sure America's promise will be there for everyone.  Who will make sure that no matter where you live in America  or where your family came from in the world, you have a path to opportunity too. 

Warren: Julián!  Come on in.
Castro: Hello!  How are you.

That's why I'm proud to endorse Elizabeth Warren for President.

Warren: You did so many things in this campaign. 
Castro: Yeah.
Warren: And it continues to matter.  It's not just in the past tense—it matters.

Castro: You know, I started my campaign off, and we lived true to the idea that we want an America where everyone counts.  It's the same vision that I see in you, in your campaign  in the America that you would help bring about.

Nobody is working harder than you are, not only in meeting people, but listening to people and also bringing the goods and saying, "Okay, this is what I'm going to do about it."

Warren: The thing I hear the most from people in the selfie lines isi hope.  Hope because we know what's broken, we know how to fix it, we're building a movement to get it done.

Castro: It takes a great president; it also takes the people behind that president.

Warren: Yes, it does.

Castro: That's what you're summoning—the energy of the people, matched with a strong, positive vision for change in our country.  That's what it's going to take to win in 2020.

Warren: Things have been broken for a long, long time.

Castro: Sure.

Warren: Some people say they want to go back to how it used to be, business as usual, nothing will change.

No.  A country that elects someone like Donald Trump is a country that's already in serious trouble.  And now, the possibility for change, that door has opened a crack.

Castro: And there's that energy there waiting to make those changes happen. 

Warren:  Yep.  Yep.

Warren: I'm not running for president just to go live in the White House.  I'm running for president to make change for our families all across this country, to make change so that everybody has real opportunity in this country.

Castro: People are responding to that...

Warren: Yeah.

Castro: ...and they believe in you.  They have confidence in you because you listened.  More and more they're recognizing that you're the one who's actually going to get it done.

Warren: Because that's what we've got to do.

Castro: Yeah, absolutely.

Warren: All of us.

Castro: I'm Secretary Julián Castro, and I endorse Elizabeth Warren for president.