Former San Antonio mayor Julián Castro has officially unveiled his long-awaited next step since leaving the Obama White House nearly a year ago.
On Tuesday, Castro launched Opportunity First, his brand-new political action committee meant to propel younger Democrats into office (and eventually regain control of Congress).
Castro, who was replaced as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by Ben Carson in January 2017, has three specific types of "young, progressive" candidates in mind: Those who are running to unseat Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, those running for office in states with majority-Republican state legislatures, and people with "exceptional talent" running for local office.
It doesn't come as a total surprise, since Castro has focused on backing younger Texas Dems since leaving D.C., like when he went door-to-door campaigning for Mayor Ron Nirenberg or endorsed civil rights attorney and former NFL player Colin Allred in the race for Texas' 32nd Congressional District.
Plus, Castro and his twin brother, Congressman Joaquin Castro, are textbook examples of the PAC's sought-after candidates — both men kicked off their political careers in their mid-20s.
Some see the new PAC as a step toward Castro eventually running for president in 2020, but he's dodged the question.
"The thrust of Opportunity First will be to support people who are running in the 2018 cycle. I'm happy to do it," he told the Texas Tribune in a Monday interview.
But let's not pretend "Opportunity First" isn't a loud-and-clear response to "America First."
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