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| Julián Castro Ends Presidential Run: ‘It Simply Isn’t Our Time’ | Julián Castro Ends Presidential Run: ‘It Simply Isn’t Our Time’ |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Julián Castro, the former housing secretary who was the only Latino candidate in the Democratic primary, said Thursday he would end his bid for the presidency, capping a yearlong campaign where he struggled in polls but remained a policy pacesetter on immigration and fighting poverty. | Julián Castro, the former housing secretary who was the only Latino candidate in the Democratic primary, said Thursday he would end his bid for the presidency, capping a yearlong campaign where he struggled in polls but remained a policy pacesetter on immigration and fighting poverty. |
| Throughout his campaign, Mr. Castro, 45, a native of San Antonio who spent five years as its mayor, portrayed himself as an unapologetic liberal who was shaped by his humble beginnings and had been overlooked by the press. Though he created some memorable moments as he championed progressive policy and challenged his rivals on the campaign trail, Mr. Castro did not catch on with voters and was unable to break into the upper tier of a crowded primary field. His exit is the latest departure of a candidate of color from a field that began as the most racially diverse ever in a Democratic primary. | Throughout his campaign, Mr. Castro, 45, a native of San Antonio who spent five years as its mayor, portrayed himself as an unapologetic liberal who was shaped by his humble beginnings and had been overlooked by the press. Though he created some memorable moments as he championed progressive policy and challenged his rivals on the campaign trail, Mr. Castro did not catch on with voters and was unable to break into the upper tier of a crowded primary field. His exit is the latest departure of a candidate of color from a field that began as the most racially diverse ever in a Democratic primary. |
| “I’ve determined that it simply isn’t our time,” Mr. Castro said in a nearly four-minute video message released by his campaign, which included a montage from his year on the trail, including visits to the border and a homeless encampment in Oakland. “Today it’s with a heavy heart, and profound gratitude, that I will suspend my campaign for president.” | “I’ve determined that it simply isn’t our time,” Mr. Castro said in a nearly four-minute video message released by his campaign, which included a montage from his year on the trail, including visits to the border and a homeless encampment in Oakland. “Today it’s with a heavy heart, and profound gratitude, that I will suspend my campaign for president.” |
| “I’m not done fighting," Mr. Castro continued, though he gave no indication of his immediate plans. “I’ll keep working towards a nation where everyone counts, a nation where everyone can get a good job, good health care and a decent place to live.” | “I’m not done fighting," Mr. Castro continued, though he gave no indication of his immediate plans. “I’ll keep working towards a nation where everyone counts, a nation where everyone can get a good job, good health care and a decent place to live.” |
| The video also features Mr. Castro listing the names of African Americans and Latinos who were killed by police or died in police custody in recent years, something he did often during debates and on the trail. | The video also features Mr. Castro listing the names of African Americans and Latinos who were killed by police or died in police custody in recent years, something he did often during debates and on the trail. |
| Mr. Castro’s departure shrinks the field of Democratic candidates to 14. He was viewed as a potential vice-presidential pick by Hillary Clinton in 2016 and could be a valuable running mate this year, with Democrats eager to court Latino voters. | |
| One of the most high-profile Latino Democrats ever to seek the party’s nomination, Mr. Castro shaped the national conversation about border control and immigration reform. His memorable confrontation with former Representative Beto O’Rourke — a fellow Texan — during the first Democratic debate in June led to a broad discussion about whether to decriminalize border crossings, as Mr. Castro had suggested. Almost instantly, Mr. Castro’s progressive stance on the issue became a litmus test among Democrats seeking the nomination, and several candidates ultimately embraced his position. | One of the most high-profile Latino Democrats ever to seek the party’s nomination, Mr. Castro shaped the national conversation about border control and immigration reform. His memorable confrontation with former Representative Beto O’Rourke — a fellow Texan — during the first Democratic debate in June led to a broad discussion about whether to decriminalize border crossings, as Mr. Castro had suggested. Almost instantly, Mr. Castro’s progressive stance on the issue became a litmus test among Democrats seeking the nomination, and several candidates ultimately embraced his position. |
| Mr. Castro, whose keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention elevated him to the national stage, carved out substantive positions on core issues like housing, education, criminal justice and the economy, while developing unique and specific proposals on police reform, strengthening indigenous communities, protecting animals and eliminating lead poisoning. | Mr. Castro, whose keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention elevated him to the national stage, carved out substantive positions on core issues like housing, education, criminal justice and the economy, while developing unique and specific proposals on police reform, strengthening indigenous communities, protecting animals and eliminating lead poisoning. |
| He espoused the benefits of universal prekindergarten, which he had instituted in San Antonio when he was mayor, and proposed taxing the inherited wealth held by the country’s top earners. And his focus on how to help the poor — encapsulated by a plan to end hunger — won him support from those who saw him as a fierce advocate for the underserved and underrepresented. | He espoused the benefits of universal prekindergarten, which he had instituted in San Antonio when he was mayor, and proposed taxing the inherited wealth held by the country’s top earners. And his focus on how to help the poor — encapsulated by a plan to end hunger — won him support from those who saw him as a fierce advocate for the underserved and underrepresented. |
| But Mr. Castro never developed much enthusiasm among voters and did not find his footing in the polls, rarely exceeding 2 percent support in national or early-voting state surveys. He found little success by explicitly pitching himself as potentially the first Latino in the White House, though he had support from many Latino elected officials. | But Mr. Castro never developed much enthusiasm among voters and did not find his footing in the polls, rarely exceeding 2 percent support in national or early-voting state surveys. He found little success by explicitly pitching himself as potentially the first Latino in the White House, though he had support from many Latino elected officials. |
| Although Mr. Castro participated in the first four primary debates, he did not make the cut for those that followed. Weeks before the qualification deadline for the November debate, he warned that if he could not raise more money, he would end his campaign. He raised more than $800,000, meeting the goal he had set, but he never got the polling boost he needed. | Although Mr. Castro participated in the first four primary debates, he did not make the cut for those that followed. Weeks before the qualification deadline for the November debate, he warned that if he could not raise more money, he would end his campaign. He raised more than $800,000, meeting the goal he had set, but he never got the polling boost he needed. |
| Mr. Castro was also unable to capitalize on the positive reviews he earned from the June debate. And in the September one, during an exchange over health care policy, Mr. Castro made what was viewed as a veiled swipe at former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s age. “Are you forgetting already what you said just two minutes ago?” Mr. Castro said to Mr. Biden, 77, stating that he had contradicted himself on the need for some citizens to buy into his health care plan. Though Mr. Castro denied his remark had been meant as “a shot” at Mr. Biden, he was assailed by some strategists and lost the endorsement of a Texas congressman, who backed Mr. Biden instead. | Mr. Castro was also unable to capitalize on the positive reviews he earned from the June debate. And in the September one, during an exchange over health care policy, Mr. Castro made what was viewed as a veiled swipe at former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s age. “Are you forgetting already what you said just two minutes ago?” Mr. Castro said to Mr. Biden, 77, stating that he had contradicted himself on the need for some citizens to buy into his health care plan. Though Mr. Castro denied his remark had been meant as “a shot” at Mr. Biden, he was assailed by some strategists and lost the endorsement of a Texas congressman, who backed Mr. Biden instead. |
| Mr. Castro gained attention again in recent weeks with his call for a reordering of the Democratic primary schedule, arguing that Iowa and New Hampshire, whose largely white populations vote first, did not represent the demographics of the country. The critique came after more than 10 months of enthusiastic campaigning in both states, during which he failed to draw crowds as large as some of his rivals did. The campaign pulled staff from New Hampshire and South Carolina in early November, when it was clear he was not gaining significant support in either state. | Mr. Castro gained attention again in recent weeks with his call for a reordering of the Democratic primary schedule, arguing that Iowa and New Hampshire, whose largely white populations vote first, did not represent the demographics of the country. The critique came after more than 10 months of enthusiastic campaigning in both states, during which he failed to draw crowds as large as some of his rivals did. The campaign pulled staff from New Hampshire and South Carolina in early November, when it was clear he was not gaining significant support in either state. |
| Mr. Castro was outspoken when Senator Kamala Harris of California made a surprise exit from the race in early December, saying that “Kamala was treated very poorly” and had been “held to an unfair standard” by the media. | Mr. Castro was outspoken when Senator Kamala Harris of California made a surprise exit from the race in early December, saying that “Kamala was treated very poorly” and had been “held to an unfair standard” by the media. |
| “The media’s flawed formula for “electability” has pushed aside women and candidates of color,” he said that day on Twitter. “Our party’s diversity is our strength.” | “The media’s flawed formula for “electability” has pushed aside women and candidates of color,” he said that day on Twitter. “Our party’s diversity is our strength.” |
| For some, Ms. Harris’s departure bolstered the case Mr. Castro had been making about the primary system. On the day she announced she was dropping out, Mr. Castro had his best fund-raising day of the quarter. | For some, Ms. Harris’s departure bolstered the case Mr. Castro had been making about the primary system. On the day she announced she was dropping out, Mr. Castro had his best fund-raising day of the quarter. |
| Mr. Castro’s concerns about the field’s diminishing diversity were amplified again in the days leading up to the December debate, when nine of the Democratic candidates signed a letter to the D.N.C. asking officials to lower the thresholds to qualify for the party’s January and February events. The letter noted that many of the candidates who had helped make the Democratic field diverse had been “excluded.” And indeed, the December debate featured six white candidates and only one person of color, the businessman Andrew Yang. | Mr. Castro’s concerns about the field’s diminishing diversity were amplified again in the days leading up to the December debate, when nine of the Democratic candidates signed a letter to the D.N.C. asking officials to lower the thresholds to qualify for the party’s January and February events. The letter noted that many of the candidates who had helped make the Democratic field diverse had been “excluded.” And indeed, the December debate featured six white candidates and only one person of color, the businessman Andrew Yang. |
| Shortly after Mr. Castro made his announcement, other candidates expressed their disappointment at his departure and gratitude for his contributions. | Shortly after Mr. Castro made his announcement, other candidates expressed their disappointment at his departure and gratitude for his contributions. |
| “Your voice and campaign were invaluable in sticking up for underrepresented communities and pushing the field forward,” said Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who later sent a fund-raising appeal to supporters directly invoking Mr. Castro and the racial makeup of the field. | |
| Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, speaking to reporters after a campaign event in Concord, N.H., praised Mr. Castro as “a firm, clear, moral voice in the primary” and said she was “very sorry” he was leaving the race. | |
| “He raised issues like the importance of universal child care and pushed them forward in debates when other candidates were ignoring them,” she said, without naming those rivals. “I know he has an important voice in American politics and that we’re going to hear a lot more from him in 2020 and in years to come.” | |
| Mr. Castro, a third-generation Mexican-American who has endured repeated scrutiny over his lack of Spanish fluency, ended his last campaign video with a message to supporters: | Mr. Castro, a third-generation Mexican-American who has endured repeated scrutiny over his lack of Spanish fluency, ended his last campaign video with a message to supporters: |
| “Ganaremos un día!” The translation is offered only in the subtitles: “One day we’ll win!” | “Ganaremos un día!” The translation is offered only in the subtitles: “One day we’ll win!” |
| Patrick Healy contributed reporting from Concord, N.H. |