Joaquin Castro — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in Texas, 2026

Joaquin Castro advocates for comprehensive immigration reform, citing that the United States' strength and prosperity stem from its immigrant population. He opposes new Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, particularly those holding families in inhumane conditions. Castro also opposes executive orders that would impose a functional ban on asylum, arguing such measures fundamentally alter asylum laws without protecting Dreamers or other contributing immigrants. He is committed to reforming the immigration system for equity and opportunity.

“I'm Joaquin Castro. I’m proud to represent my hometown of San Antonio, Texas here in the House of Representatives – and I'd like to remind Donald Trump that the United States became the most powerful, most prosperous nation on earth, not in spite of immigrants, but because of them." — Congressman Joaquin Castro, Remarks on President Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders, January 23, 2025.”

Joaquin Castro strongly supports accessible and affordable healthcare for all Americans, opposing cuts to programs like Medicaid. He voted "no" on a government spending bill in November 2025 that he stated continued "attacks on families" through healthcare cuts. Castro proudly co-sponsors Medicare For All, the Affordable Insulin Now Act, the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act, and the COVER Now Act, aiming to lower costs and expand coverage.

“I voted no on this disastrous bill. I will continue to fight for the healthcare that Texans and people across the country need and deserve.” - Congressman Joaquin Castro, Castro Statement on Government Spending Bill, November 12, 2025.”

Congressman Joaquin Castro voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to cut carbon pollution and invest in clean energy. He supports expanding clean energy and public transit, offering tax credits for electric vehicles, and funding home energy efficiency programs. Castro has opposed amendments that aimed to eliminate funding for EPA's Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, reduce overall EPA funding, or prohibit funding for social cost of carbon regulations.

Congressman Joaquin Castro supports reproductive rights, voting for the Right to Contraception Act to prevent states from restricting access to birth control. He opposes abortion restrictions, having voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act of 2017. Castro also advocated for the Women's Health Protection Act, citing the need to codify abortion access and ensure individuals have the freedom to decide about starting a family.

““Today’s Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is wrong, and it will endanger the health and safety of people in Texas and across the country,” said Congressman Castro. “The impact of Texas Senate Bill 8 foreshadowed the dangerous consequences of the extreme abortion restrictions this ruling will allow. The Supreme Court’s action today will force women and girls to carry pregnancies that were conceived through rape and incest and empower extremists to persecute people who suffer a miscarriage or high-risk pregnancy that threatens their life. The House has voted to codify abortion rights through the Women’s Health Protection Act, and the Senate needs to act with urgency to do the same. Every American should have the freedom to decide when and how to start a family.” — Congressman Castro, Statement on the Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.”

Joaquin Castro advocates for congressional oversight in foreign policy and limiting presidential war powers. He voted against the Financial Services and State Department Funding Bill, citing concerns about accountability and what he described as abuses in foreign policy. Castro secured provisions in the State Department Reauthorization Package to strengthen U.S. diplomacy and improve foreign assistance effectiveness, aiming to promote U.S. leadership and values abroad. He has introduced legislation such as the "No Unauthorized War in Mexico Act" and War Powers Resolutions.

“I voted no on the Financial Services and State Department Funding Bill today. [...] President Trump has engaged in illegal wars in Venezuela, the Caribbean, and Eastern Pacific. He is threatening allies and neighbors, including Mexico, Colombia, and Greenland, with invasion. He illegally closed down the United States Agency for International Development and cancelled congressionally-funded foreign assistance programs, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, and has used foreign assistance funding to pay El Salvador to detain people in a gulag. He is pursuing a foreign policy that enriches his rich allies and endangers Americans. While I strongly support the State Department, our diplomats, and foreign assistance professionals, I believe that this bill does not sufficiently hold the administration accountable or stop its abuses. [...] I understand that this bill is the product of negotiations between Republican and Democratic leadership and is an improvement of the Republican-only proposal from last year which would have made deeper cuts to the State Department and foreign policy programs, but I cannot support it. — Congressman Joaquin Castro, Statement on Financial Services and State Department Funding Vote, January 14, 2026”

Congressman Joaquin Castro supports various educational initiatives, including advocating for student debt forgiveness, investing in affordable child care, and securing federal funding for local educational institutions like UTSA. He co-introduced the Head Start for Our Future Act to make child development and early education jobs eligible for the Federal Work-Study program, aiming to strengthen the future teacher pipeline and improve outcomes for young children. He also introduced a bill to improve credit transfer for community college students.

““We can strengthen the infrastructure of opportunity for future generations by expanding the Federal Work-Study program to improve educational outcomes for young children and build a stronger pipeline of future teachers,” said Congressman Castro. “The Head Start for Our Future Act will help university students earn real-world, paid experience as early childhood educators, benefiting both our children and those who teach them.” (Congressman Joaquin Castro, Press Release: Reps. Castro, Ciscomani and Senators Gillibrand, Collins Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Workforce, undated)”

Research pending more substantial sources.