Julian Castro will make a one-day visit out to Eastern Iowa on Monday, Starting Line hears from sources involved in the trip. The likely soon-to-be presidential candidate will hold small meetings with elected officials, community leaders and Democratic activists in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and some small towns in the surrounding area.
Castro’s quick visit will come several days before he makes an official announcement on his plans for a presidential run from San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, January 12. Considering he’s also visiting New Hampshire a few days after that announcement, it’s essentially all but certain this will be the launch of his 2020 bid.
Iowa saw the former San Antonio mayor and Barack Obama’s former Housing and Urban Development secretary twice during the 2018 cycle. He focused some of those stops on events with college students, young professionals and Latino activists, and also joined congressional candidates Cindy Axne and J.D. Scholten at campaign events. Castro was well-received by local activists on those initial stops.
The Monday trip will come one day after Elizabeth Warren’s initial three-day tour of Iowa since announcing her exploratory committee. Tom Steyer, another likely 2020 contender, will visit the state on Wednesday.
Starting Line will update this post as we get more details of his trip.
by Pat Rynard
Posted 1/4/19
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