Castro, age 50, is running unopposed for a seventh term in Congress. The San Antonian is a member of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I was raised on the Westside of San Antonio with my twin brother Julián. My family moved around four times when I was growing up, so we got a good tour of the Westside. I went to Hoelscher and Carvajal Elementary Schools, Tafolla Middle School, and Jefferson High School. After I graduated from Jefferson, I attended Stanford University and Harvard Law School. Julián and I then worked for a private law firm in San Antonio before starting our own practice.
When I was twenty-eight, I was elected to represent the 125th District of Texas in the Texas Legislature. After Congressman Charlie Gonzalez announced his retirement, I ran for Congress and was elected in 2012. It’s an honor to represent my hometown, and my wife Anna and I are proud to be raising our three kids here.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Since I was first elected to public office, I’ve focused on building out what I call the Infrastructure of Opportunity — the great public schools and universities, sound health care system and good jobs that help Americans get where they want to go in life.
Over my last two terms, I’ve been proud to champion legislation that addresses those goals, including:
- The Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35/month for many Americans with diabetes, lowered health care premiums, and finally allowed Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers to lower costs for seniors and people with disabilities.
- The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which brought billions of dollars to Texas to create jobs, clean up pollution, and help every family connect to the internet.
After the tragedy in Uvalde, I also fought to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most comprehensive gun safety legislation in decades. We still need to do more to protect communities from gun violence, but the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was a big step forward. I was also proud to advocate for the passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which expanded health care and benefits for millions of veterans affected by burn pits and other toxins. I’m running for re-election so I can keep building on that progress and create a stronger future for San Antonio.
In addition, I’ve introduced and am working to pass several bills to improve high-quality education, including:
- The HERE Act, which would fund college and career readiness programs in school districts with significant Hispanic and Latino enrollment.
- The Advanced Coursework Equity Act, which would help school districts support talented students of color as they advance toward college and STEM careers.
I’m also proud to be a founding member and co-chair of the Bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, which fights for federal investments in child care.
How would you approach Congress’ ongoing gridlock on numerous issues including spending bills?
As a Democrat in the Texas Legislature, I learned quickly that I would need to work across the aisle to make progress for my constituents. Ultimately, I’ve found that most elected officials from both parties are decent folks who want to deliver for people back home. I have strong disagreements with many of my Republican colleagues, especially on issues like abortion and immigration, but we’re almost always able to find some common ground.
Over the last several years, my office has worked closely with many Republican elected officials, particularly on local issues. When Congress is considering any legislation, including government funding bills, I try to put politics aside and focus on the basic needs of our country. Most elected officials don’t want to see our service members go without pay or seniors struggle with delayed Social Security checks. In a time of extreme partisanship, centering conversations in the lives of our constituents can make a big difference.
Describe your approach to being an effective lawmaker in order to best serve the needs of voters in your district?
My team in San Antonio works almost exclusively on community outreach, casework, and grant funding for community programs in our district. That helps us stay focused on the things that matter to our constituents. When I come back to San Antonio every weekend, I make a point of being out in the community and bringing my kids along as much as possible. I want my constituents to know that my office is accessible and focused on serving them.
How do you solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
My office has an extensive constituent correspondence program and we send hundreds of responses a week to constituents who reach out to us with their opinions. I attend as many community events as I can, but the most direct feedback I receive is often from people I run into when I’m out and about. I hear a lot of opinions at the barber shop and in the checkout line at H-E-B, and I’m grateful that our district is so engaged.
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