JULIAN CASTRO

Potential White House hopefuls from both parties often swing by Iowa’s legendary state fair during a midterm election year.

One of the last anti-abortion Democrats in Congress is in the toughest reelection battle of his career in South Texas.

Federal judge says a measure making it a felony for a deported person to come back to the U.S. has "racist, nativist roots" and discriminates against Mexican and Latinx people.

Unlike most people who have held the job, she won't need to be schooled on the history of Native Americans or tribal sovereignty. President Joe Biden has committed to regular and meaningful consultation with tribal nations on federal policies and projects that affect them. The Interior Department has scheduled a series of talks with tribes in March on health, the economy, racial justice and the environment. Biden also vowed to restore the White House Tribal Nations Conference, an annual gathering of tribal leaders that occurred during the Obama administration. Some Native Americans want Mount Rushmore removed, while others want a share in its economic benefits.

"Team AOC is launching relief efforts for Texas starting today," Ocasio-Cortez tweet on Thursday, linking to the fundraising page. "Our first effort is a partnership w/ 5 Texas orgs getting on-the-ground relief to Texans ASAP. Our Texas relief mobilization has already raised $325k for food, housing, elder care & direct relief straight to vulnerable Texans. The congresswoman then gave donors an incentive to give: "I feel like I should do something if we hit $1M in Texas relief. Castro did his own fundraising, surpassing $100,000 for Feeding Texas food banks, he tweeted.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) carries his luggage at the Cancun International Airport before boarding his plane back to the U.S., in Cancun, Mexico February 18, 2021. Images purportedly showing Ted Cruz board a United Airlines Flight to Cancun, Mexico from Houston, TX. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaks to the media at the Cancun International Airport before boarding his plane back to the U.S., in Cancun, Mexico February 18, 2021. Images purportedly showing Ted Cruz with Heidi Cruz (circled) board a United Airlines Flight to Cancun, Mexico from Houston, TX. "In the middle of one of the worst crises in Texas history, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz jetted off to Cancun, Mexico.

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped nine of her most trusted allies in the House to argue the case for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Pelosi hasn’t yet said when she will send the article of impeachment to the Senate. Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette, another manager, says the nine prosecutors plan to present a serious case and “finish the job” that the House started. REP. TED LIEU, CALIFORNIALieu, who authored the article of impeachment with Cicilline and Raskin, is on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs panels. She is also a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and is a former lawyer and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

In this image from video, former Georgia House Democratic leader Stacey Abrams, center, and others, speak during the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)Sustaining energy through four days of a political convention is never easy. On the second night of the Democratic National Convention, party leaders tried to blend its past with its future. Here are key takeaways from night two. But the 2020 Democratic convention is notable for the consistency of dire warnings about the other partys leader.

In this image from video, people from across the U.S. sing the National Anthem during the first night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)LAS VEGAS The pageantry often associated with presidential conventions will be remade again as Democrats gather virtually for a second day. The roll call vote of state delegations, which typically unfolds over several hours of fanfare, will instead be abbreviated Tuesday. BUT FIRST, BILLA speech from Bill Clinton is among the traditions that Democrats are including in Tuesday nights programming. The roll call will go alphabetically through the 57 states, territories and the Democrats Abroad delegation, meaning Alabama will lead off.

As Democrats gather virtually this week to nominate Joe Biden for the presidency, party leaders and activists across the political spectrum agree on one unifying force: their desire to defeat President Donald Trump. Taylor nodded at Bidens pick of Kamala Harris as his running mate, the first Black woman on a major party's ticket. Despite Biden's five decades at the core of the Democratic Party, he's not a natural fit for every faction in 2020. Perez called Biden an ideal figure to tie disparate factions together with Trump as the opponent. Democrats won the House majority in 2018 largely on the strength of more moderate nominees running in suburban and exurban swing districts.

President Donald Trump listens as Robert Unanue, of Goya Foods, speaks during a roundtable meeting with Hispanic leaders in the Cabinet Room, Thursday, July 9, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)NEW YORK Goya Foods is facing a swift backlash after its CEO praised President Donald Trump at White House event. Robert Unanue, a grandson and now Goya CEO, spoke at a Rose Garden event announcing a Hispanic Prosperity Initiative on Thursday. We all truly blessed, at the same time, to have have a leader like President Trump who is a builder, Unanue said standing at a podium beside Trump. On Wednesday, he welcomed President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador to the White House with lofty language, calling Mexico a cherished partner.

Gates, meanwhile, received the support of Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott and partially self-funded his campaign, pouring about $1.5 million of his own money into the race. "Win or lose in this district, there's a clear path to a Democratic majority in November in the Texas State House." After Gates' win in House District 28, and Democratic wins in House District 100 and 148, the state House remains nine seats away from flipping. On Monday, the Texas Democratic Party and Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee unveiled a list of 22 state House seat targets, all of which had single-digit margins in the 2018 midterm elections. The Republican State Leadership Committee launched their "Right Lines 2020" redistricting campaign in September, and raised at least $19 million in 2019.

Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro share a moment at the end of a Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, June 26, 2019, in Miami. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president on Monday, days after dropping out of the Democratic primary race. "That's why I'm proud to endorse Elizabeth Warren for president," he said. Castro left the race on Tuesday after lagging in the polls and failing to keep up with rivals' fundraising efforts. Castro was the only Latino in the Democratic primary race.

"So today it's with a heavy heart and with profound gratitude that I will suspend my campaign for president." Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary on Thursday, ending a progressive and pugnacious bid that emphasized immigration and social issues but rarely made progress in the polls. A former mayor of San Antonio and HUD secretary during President Barack Obama's administration, Castro campaigned on reforming immigration policy and the criminal justice system. Thank you, Mr. Secretary," Biden tweeted. Castro was one of the youngest Democrats vying to defeat President Donald Trump in the 2020 contest.

The Democratic Party has struggled with how to handle a historically large field of candidates. For Thursdays debate, candidates must show that they have received donations from at least 200,000 unique donors, as well as meeting polling benchmarks. Castro bemoaned the ability of billionaires who are self-funding their campaign to make the debate stage. Our campaign has been speaking up for people who are often left behind, Castro said after his walk down some of the roughest blocks in Los Angeles. What we are seeing in this election cycle is that, too often in politics, money still talks, that people can basically buy their way on to the debate stage.

But the African American vote is not monolithic, as is the case of the Trumpers the white 40 percent or so of voters who support the incumbent. But there are other constituents in the African American community, most notably women and millennials. There is also a split between those who prefer a candidate who will, nally, champion African American causes even more that Obama did and those whose chief concern is electability. That is what The Washington Posts Cleve R. Wootson Jr. discovered when he interviewed African American voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania and North Carolina in May. While the overall millennial voter turnout rate increased in 2016, the number of black millennials who turned out to vote dropped.

While Harris, of California, cited a lack of "financial resources" in her dropout announcement Tuesday, her bundler list is among the most valuable in the 2020 field. This person noted that he has heard from donors with allegiances to Biden, Klobuchar and Booker but has not made a decision on whom to back. Representatives of Harris, Biden, Booker, Buttigieg and Klobuchar did not return a request for comment. He said he even heard from people close to Sen. Bernie Sanders, but not for the sake of fundraising. Picking up members of Harris' donor network would be a boon for the remaining candidates in the 2020 field.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden mounted a fierce defense of Barack Obamas legacy on Saturday after several of his White House rivals attacked that record in debates this week. FILE PHOTO: Candidate former Vice President Joe Biden walks on stage before the start of the second night of the second 2020 Democratic U.S. presidential debate in Detroit, Michigan, July 31, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File PhotoBiden, appearing at a union forum in Nevada with 18 Democratic rivals, appeared fired up as he forcefully defended former U.S. Democratic President Obama and his signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. One of the fiercest critics of Obamas immigration policy and of Biden during the debates was Julian Castro, Obamas former housing secretary. He said he has been effusive in his praise for Obama and that the Obama-era immigration policy got better over time.

More so than any other candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden has capitalized on his proximity to Obama, hoping their close relationship will lead him to the presidency. Biden had refused to answer a question on whether he supported Obama's deportation strategy as vice president, insisting he would keep those discussions private. You invoke President Obama more than anybody in this campaign," Booker said. "I was a little surprised at how much incoming there was about Barack, about the president," Biden said to reporters Thursday. Other Obama administration alumni warned that the attacks could divide the party when its focus should be on defeating Trump.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden survived another debate night of sustained criticism, while many of his rivals for the Democratic Partys 2020 presidential nomination leave Detroit hoping they did enough to keep their bids alive. The partys next debate is not until September, and the majority of candidates are struggling to raise enough money or gain enough traction in the polls to make the cut for that event. Gillibrand was direct about her struggle, asking viewers on Wednesday night to donate to her campaign so I can make the next debate stage.For the front-runners, the second round of debate resulted in few pitfalls. Candidates on both nights appeared eager to tussle on the debate stage, while uniting around their determination to defeat Trump. And as your president, thats how I will govern and move us forward together.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contenders attacked Republican President Donald Trump as a demagogue who is ripping apart the country and promised to restore unity during the opening minutes of a debate on Wednesday. Candidates former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris on the second night of the second 2020 Democratic U.S. presidential debate in Detroit, Michigan, July 31, 2019. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined them on stage in Detroit in search of a breakout moment that will generate new momentum for their campaigns. The sharp attack gave Harris a bump in the polls, and Bidens feeble response led to a dip in his standing.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden and rival Kamala Harris will stage a rematch of last months explosive debate confrontation during Round 2 on Wednesday, with a re-energized Biden promising a more aggressive approach. Democratic U.S. Presidential candidate Joe Biden addresses the audience during the Presidential candidate forum at the annual convention of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Detroit, Michigan, U.S. July 24, 2019. Biden did not figure prominently on the first night of the debate but is likely to be the focus of the second. Booker, who was not on stage with Biden at the last debate, has stepped up his attacks. The Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for the next debates in September and October, leaving out more candidates and raising questions about their ability to continue their campaigns.

Democratic presidential candidates former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) greet each other at the Democratic Presidential Debate at the Fox Theatre July 31, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris are set to rematch during night two of the second Democratic debates on Wednesday following a contentious first debate last month. Biden and Harris sparred at the Miami debate in June over Biden's opposition as a senator to using busing as a tool for desegregation. Wednesday night's debate may also provide opportunities for some of the candidates hovering under 2% in the polls to gain attention. She said this month: "We have Democratic candidates running for president right now who do not believe necessarily that it's a good idea that women work outside the home."

All 20 contenders who appeared on the debate stage last week will return for the late July debates. The do-or-die nature of making the debates has forced many second-tier candidates to dump money into online advertising at an unprecedented rate to generate new donors. The overwhelming majority of Facebook ads target Democratic fundraising hubs or the candidates home states, where they are best known. And the message behind many online ads has been focused on qualifying for debates _ not persuasion ads that highlight Democrats plans or Trumps weaknesses. His campaign insists he will hit polling and fundraising marks, but his allies are concerned by what they see as an inherent bias among online donors who traditionally skew white.

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has proposed wiping out all $1.6 trillion of outstanding student loan debt in the U.S., while rival Elizabeth Warren has called for canceling $640 billion of the debt. Voters in blue states stand to have more debt forgiven under these plans than those in red states, according to an analysis by CNBC. For example, the average student loan borrower in Maryland owes close to $40,000, compared with around $26,000 in North Dakota. College affordability is an issue everywhere in the country, said Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert. "All members of Congress are feeling pressure to do something about the student loan problem."

Senator Cory Booker, former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Senator Amy Klobuchar listen during the first U.S. 2020 presidential election Democratic candidates debate in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 26, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo(Reuters) - The first U.S. Democratic presidential debate, a faceoff without the partys frontrunners, hauled in a surprisingly large 15.3 million viewers across three television networks, according to Nielsen estimates released by NBC News on Thursday. Wednesdays TV audience did not reach the all-time primary record set in 2016 when 24 million viewers tuned in for the first performance by Donald Trump in a Republican candidates debate on Fox News Channel. The audience matched the preliminary estimate of 15.3 million viewers for a Democratic debate in October 2015 on CNN, now owned by AT&T Inc. That number was later revised to 15.8 million, a record for a Democratic primary field. More than 9 million additional viewers watched Wednesdays debate via live streams on the internet, NBC said.

Senator Cory Booker, former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Senator Amy Klobuchar listen during the first U.S. 2020 presidential election Democratic candidates debate in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 26, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo(Reuters) - About 15.3 million TV viewers watched Wednesdays debate among Elizabeth Warren, Beto ORourke and eight other candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for U.S. president, according to Nielsen data released by NBC News. The viewership for the first televised face-off of Democratic contenders, which did not include frontrunners Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, was bigger than many analysts predicted and in line with the large audience that tuned in for the first Democratic debate of the 2016 election cycle. The TV audience did not reach the all-time primary record set in 2016 when 24 million viewers tuned in for the first performance by Donald Trump in a Republican candidates debate on Fox News Channel. A second debate with 10 other Democratic presidential contenders, including Biden and Sanders, is scheduled for Thursday.

The former congressman tangled with Castro, a fellow Texan, on border policy, and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on healthcare. The battle over healthcare began when the candidates were asked to raise their hands if they support eliminating private health insurance. ORourke said private insurance was fundamental to our ability to get everybody cared for, but de Blasio cut him off. Congressman ORourke, private insurance is not working for tens of millions of Americans when you talk about the copays, the deductibles the premiums - its not working. Senator Cory Booker, former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Senator Amy Klobuchar listen during the first U.S. 2020 presidential election Democratic candidates debate in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 26, 2019.

Twenty Democratic presidential candidates had their first chance to square off on the same stage this week. Winner: Kamala HarrisSen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks during the second night of the first Democratic presidential debate on June 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. In a tweet, Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney called Harris' criticism of Biden an "incredible moment." At one point during the debate, Harris was the top trending topic on Google across the U.S. Biden, for his part, said Harris mischaracterized his record on race. Loser: Beto O'RourkeFormer U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke speaks at the first U.S. 2020 presidential election Democratic candidates debate in Miami, Florida, U.S., June 26, 2019.

Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesAs the Democratic presidential candidates spar in the first debate leading up to the 2020 election, focus is on the governors who want to beat President Donald Trump and their individual accomplishments. Here's a scorecard that shows how the governors who would be president did in terms of growing their states' economy and spurring job growth, while managing public health, education, infrastructure and housing development. Jay InsleeWashington Governor Jay Inslee speaks during the first U.S. 2020 presidential election Democratic candidates debate in Miami, Florida, June 26, 2019. Mike Segar | ReutersDemocrat Washington (2013present) The 23rd governor of Washington State has made battling climate change the centerpiece of his presidential campaign. An unabashedly pro-business governor, Weld helped cement Massachusetts' role as a technology hub during the 1990s tech boom.

(Reuters) - Ten Democratic presidential candidates took the debate stage on Wednesday night for the first head-to-head primary face-off. Democratic 2020 presidential candidates New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, former HUD Secretary Julian Castro, U.S. ABOLISH PRIVATE INSURANCE? He pointed out that his father enjoyed the private health benefits negotiated through his union. I am the only candidate here who has passed a law protecting a womens right of reproductive health and health insurance, he said, saying health insurance companies should not be allowed to deny womens reproductive choice rights.

The battle over healthcare began when the candidates were asked to raise their hands if they support eliminating private health insurance. Warren, a leader of the partys progressive wing who has been surging in opinion polls, said private insurance was taking advantage of Americans. Senator Bernie Sanders, which has gained support in Congress, would create a government-operated plan that eliminates private insurance. ORourke said private insurance was fundamental to our ability to get everybody cared for, but de Blasio cut him off. Congressman ORourke, private insurance is not working for tens of millions of Americans when you talk about the copays, the deductibles the premiums - its not working.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty Democratic presidential hopefuls will hit the debate stage on Wednesday and Thursday nights to square off for the first time in the 2020 nominating contest. FILE PHOTO: The line up of U.S. Democratic presidential candidates who will participate in the party's first of two nights of debate in Miami on June 26, 2019, in a combination file photos (L-R top row): U.S. Some leading white contenders have faced toughed questions this month surrounding race issues - and could be forced to defend themselves on the debate stage. A standout debate moment can help skyrocket a candidate from the bottom of the polls into the top tier. If moderators take note, that could lead to the first time candidates on a debate stage get asked to respond to a presidential tweet in real time.

As the immigration crisis overshadowed the first presidential debate, the tension between two Texans -- Julian Castro and Beto O'Rourke -- erupted on the stage on Wednesday night as the two tangled... Copyright 2019 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

Instead, O'Rourke is likely to focus on his own bevy of policy plans, punctuated by personal anecdotes he has collected on the campaign trail. The Minnesota senator, in preparation for Wednesday night's debate, watched video of the 2016 Republican primary debates -- raucous affairs where the massive field led to free-wielding and unpredictable exchanges. And Wednesday night's debate is unlikely to look any different for the Washington governor. RyanRyan told CNN that he has one strategy going into Wednesday night's debate: "I've got no real strategy other than be myself." De BlasioThe New York Mayor is going into the first Democratic debate with a clear goal: highlight contrast.

Booker, Klobuchar and ORourke have had their moments during the first few months in the battle for the 2020 Democratic nomination. But they have not broken through to mount a serious challenge to the top contenders, making Wednesdays debate a chance to grab some of the limelight. The debate offers Booker, a senator from New Jersey, his best chance yet to introduce himself to Democratic voters unfamiliar with him. The stage of the first U.S. 2020 presidential election Democratic candidates debate is seen before the first 10 of 20 total Democratic candidates take the stage to start a debate that will be held over the course of two nights at the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center in Miami, U.S. June 26, 2019. It may be difficult for the Democratic candidates to distinguish themselves on areas of policy such as healthcare, immigration and climate change, where there seems to be broad agreement among the presidential field.

Ten Democratic presidential candidates offered contrasting views on the biggest threats facing the U.S. in their first debate Wednesday. While multiple Democrats highlighted China and the global threat of nuclear proliferation as major challenges, no two candidates gave the same answer when asked to identify the greatest geopolitical threat America currently faces. Four candidates former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan mentioned China in their answers. Though they were denied time to explain their answers, the focus on China signals broad bipartisan concern about the Asian nation's rapid rise into a global superpower. Current and former Trump administration officials say the meeting between Trump and Xi could revive the stalled trade talks.

Obama to nominate San Antonio mayor as HUD secretary San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is expected to be nominated as President Obama's next secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Gayle King reports.