Joaquin Castro
Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative, District 20, Bexar County, Texas · Incumbent
U.S. Representative for Texas' 20th Congressional District; attorney and former law professor
Joaquin Castro is a Democrat from San Antonio. He has represented Texas' 20th Congressional District since 2013, and before that he served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013. He won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 88.2% of the vote against Kendra Wilkerson and John Atwood, and he faces Republican Edgardo Baez in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Where Castro stands
- Immigration detention
- Opposes the family detention center in Dilley, Texas, which he calls the 'Dilley Trailer Prison.' He says children held there have suffered lasting trauma, and in October 2026 he invited President Trump to visit the facility during a trip to San Antonio.
- Immigration
- Joined other members of the San Antonio congressional delegation in urging cities to end their 287(g) agreements with ICE. (Based on the press release title only.)
- Immigration
- Voted against the Laken Riley Act (S.5, 2025). The law requires DHS to detain certain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft-related offenses and lets states sue the federal government over immigration enforcement.
- Federal budget and taxes
- Voted against H.R. 1, the 2025 reconciliation law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Also voted against the FY2025 budget resolution (H.Con.Res.14), which set up that reconciliation process and the debt-limit increase.
- Federal budget and taxes
- Voted against the full-year continuing appropriations act for FY2025 (H.R.1968). Also voted against the November 2025 continuing resolution (H.R.5371) that ended the government shutdown that began October 1, 2025.
- Elections
- Voted against the SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025), which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- Federal courts
- Voted against the No Rogue Rulings Act (H.R.1526, 2025), which would limit federal district court injunctions to the parties in a case.
Background
- U.S. Representative, Texas' 20th Congressional District, 2013–present (predecessor: Charles A. Gonzalez)
- Texas House of Representatives, 2003–2013
- Committees, 2025–2026: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; House Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, 2023–2024
- Occupation: attorney and law professor
- Education: B.A., Stanford University; J.D., Harvard Law School
- Born in San Antonio; graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School
- Won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary for TX-20 with 88.2% (58,260 votes)
Also running for U.S. Representative, District 20
- Edgardo Rafael Baez Republican
Sources
- Ballotpedia: Joaquin Castro
- Rep. Joaquin Castro, official House press releases
- Press release: Castro Challenges Trump To Visit Dilley Trailer Prison (Oct 6, 2026)
- Press release: San Antonio field hearing on ICE operations and proposed warehouse (Oct 2, 2026)
- Castro for Congress campaign site
Last researched October 22, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.
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