President Obama intends to pick San Antonio, Texas Mayor Julian Castro — who delivered the crucial keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention — as the secretary of housing and urban development, the New York Times reported, citing Democrats informed about the situation.
In this Jan. 23, 2014, file photo, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro speaks about President Barack Obama's signature health care law at the Families USA’s 19th Annual Health Action Conference in Washington. (Image source: AP/Charles Dharapak, File)
Putting 39-year-old Julian Castro in the Cabinet would raise the profile of the three-term mayor who's been discussed as a possible Democratic vice presidential pick in 2016. Obama chose Castro to deliver the keynote address at the party's convention two years ago.
In his keynote address — the first delivered by a Hispanic-American at a Democratic National Convention — Castro chided Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, saying he “does not know how good he has had it.”
“What we don’t accept is that some folks won’t even get a chance and Mitt Romney and the GOP are perfectly comfortable with that America,” Castro added during his keynote.
Castro also has said that his own state will soon shift Democratic. “In a couple of presidential cycles, you’ll be on election night, you’ll be announcing we’re calling the 38 electoral votes of Texas for the Democratic nominee for president,” Castro told CBS News’ Bob Schieffer on “Face the Nation" in 2013.
If Castro is nominated and confirmed by the Senate, he would become one of the highest-ranking Hispanic officials in the Obama administration.
Obama approached Castro about serving as transportation secretary after the 2012 election, the Times reported, but Castro declined.
The White House and Castro's office aren't confirming that Castro is under consideration for the post. Castro would succeed Shaun Donovan, a member of Obama's original Cabinet.
Here's a clip of Castro's DNC 2012 keynote:
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
