One of the most highly anticipated speeches of the Democratic convention was delivered last night by San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Expectations for his speech were high but he met them. He and his identical twin brother Joaquin are both considered rising stars in the Democratic Party.

Then comes the Washington Post:

While Julian Castro is mayor of one of the largest cities in the country and Joaquin Castro is a state representative and Congressional candidate, there’s almost certain to be another step (or two) between where they are now and any national ambitions they might hold. And making the leap to statewide office will be difficult for either, at least right now.

Texas hasn’t elected a Democratic governor or senator in more than two decades (the last was Gov. Ann Richards in 1990), and the last Democrats elected lieutenant governor and attorney general came in 1994. The latter two positions are considered the top springboards to either governor or senator.

The Post notes, however, there’s “good news” for the Castros: “The more Texas trends Democratic and Latino in the coming years, the more opportunities the Castros will have for upward mobility.”

[Washington Post]