Julián castro drops out of 2020 race

Julián Castro has suspended his presidential campaign. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images With the Iowa caucuses a month away, former Housing secretary Julián Castro said Thursday that he

is ending his bid for the presidency. The announcement came in a four-minute video in which Castro said his campaign “shaped the conversation” on issues such as immigration and police

reform, but also acknowledged the difficult “circumstances of this campaign season,” an apparent allusion to his inability to gain a foothold in a crowded Democratic primary. > It’s with 

profound gratitude to all of our supporters that I > suspend my campaign for president today. >  > I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together. I’m > going to keep 

fighting for an America where everyone counts—I hope > you’ll join me in that fight. pic.twitter.com/jXQLJa3AdC > — Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) January 2, 2020 For months, Castro has

struggled to keep pace with the fundraising and polling of top-tier candidates. In October, he threatened to suspend his campaign if he wasn’t able to bring in $800,000 in ten days. He hit

the goal, giving him a few more months in race. In November, one of his biggest fundraising days came during the Democratic debate, from which he was excluded. Castro’s weak polling kept him

out of the last two debates and led him to advocate for the Democratic National Committee to change its qualification criteria. The DNC said no. Castro also raised issues in recent months

with Iowa and New Hampshire playing such a prominent role in the presidential nominating process. “Iowa and New Hampshire are wonderful states with wonderful people,” he said in November.

“But they’re also not reflective of the diversity of our country, and certainly not reflective of the diversity of the Democratic Party.” After Kamala Harris’s departure from the race in

December, Castro blamed the media for sidelining women and candidates of color. > The media’s flawed formula for “electability” has pushed aside > women and candidates of color. > 

> Our party’s diversity is our strength, and it’s a shame that > we’re headed for a December debate without a single person of > color. > — Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) December

 4, 2019 At 45, Castro is a safe bet to stick around in politics. In the video posted Thursday, he vowed to “keep fighting for an America where everyone counts.” How he does that remains an

open question. His name is sure to come up when there’s finally a Democratic nominee and that person is in need of a running mate. For now though, he’ll get to bask in the ritual that has

emerged after candidates leave this _Hunger Games_–esque primary: glowing tributes from his former rivals. > Thank you @JulianCastro for being a powerful voice, for proposing > bold 

and progressive plans, and for using your campaign to help > people who need it now. You made this race stronger—and you will > continue to be a leader in our party and our country for

 many years > to come. pic.twitter.com/SWlsDC9HcS > — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 2, 2020 > Julián brought a bold vision of justice and equality to this race. > He puts 

people first and speaks up for the most vulnerable. I know > he’ll continue to be a leader in the fight to better our > democracy. https://t.co/50gcdY2gz7 > — Amy Klobuchar 

(@amyklobuchar) January 2, 2020 > I’m going to miss seeing my friend @JulianCastro on the trail. > Thank you, Julián, for bringing your ideas and leadership to this > race—your 

voice and campaign were invaluable in sticking up for > underrepresented communities and pushing the field forward. > pic.twitter.com/qVaMi9X6gd > — Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) 

January 2, 2020