As the newly minted Chief Deputy Minority Whip in the House, sophomore Texas congressman Joaquín Castro elevates his status from relative newcomer to legitimate party leader, thanks to a recent promotion today by Democratic Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). The new role provides Castro an influential platform from which to voice his concerns, but also sends a message to both the deeply-red Lone Star State and the rest of Congress that Democratic leadership is striving for more youth and more diversity: traits that the Mexican-American budding star can fully own.
“As a young, up-and-coming House Democrat and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Rep. Castro will help ensure all parts of our caucus are represented at the table and that their voices are heard,” Hoyer said. “He is an outstanding addition to our team, and I look forward to working with him to keep Democrats united throughout the 114th Congress.”
Of late, Hoyer has been instrumental in working to change the course of his Party’s leadership, diversifying the messaging, strategies, and faces helming his House Democrats. Castro now joins a team of chief deputies that includes Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (of Arizona, in her second term) and Terri Sewell (of Alabama, in her third term).
“I look forward to taking on more responsibility. There are going to be big pieces of legislation coming forward in the next few months, and I’m ready to be helping in rounding up Democrats,” Castro said.
The diverse group of deputy whips is now tasked with keeping the minority caucus together as the legislation moves up the pike with the Republicans still holding the majority. If anything, what the Castro appointment suggests is that the Democrats tapping women and minority Members to forward their message is planting seeds for the future direction of their Party.
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