With news on Tuesday evening that former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz has won the Republican nomination for the US Senate with the backing of the Tea Party Movement; and also the news that Mayor Julian Castro of San Antonio has been selected to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in the first week of September, suddenly we must pay attention to the Lone Star State, as we may be witnessing a potential future race of these two Texans, both Latinos, who could not be more different, competing for the Presidency of the United States in 2020 or after!
Cruz is almost guaranteed to win the Senate seat to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison, even though Texas Governor Rick Perry supported his opponent, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. He would become one of the Tea Party activists in the US Senate, joining Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Marco Rubio of Florida, and would become a rival of Rubio to be the first Hispanic Republican to seek the Presidency, but with the difference being that Rubio is Cuban, and Cruz is Mexican. Do not forget that Mexican Americans are nearly two thirds of all Hispanics in America, while Cubans are only about three percent of the Hispanic population! Of course, the majority of Mexican Americans tend to vote Democratic, but in theory, Cruz might be able, long term, to change that reality. Being only 41, the same age as Rubio, who is about five months younger, a definite rivalry for Hispanic Republican support can be seen as in the making!
But at the same time, with the announcement that San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, also Mexican American, and only 37 and very photogenic, will be delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, is an event to pay attention to, as many see him as the Mexican American version of Barack Obama in the Democratic Party, with a possible future in the party beyond the mayoralty of the seventh largest city in America, including a possible run in the future for the Presidency!
To imagine a theoretical race between Cruz and Castro in the future may be an illusion, but who can say that it will not happen?
With Cruz being 41 and Castro 37, we may be hearing about both in American politics for the next few decades!
you’re fuckin stupid search in wikipedia ted cruz is cuban not mexican
I stand corrected on the ethnicity of Ted Cruz, who is indeed Cuban American, not Mexican American.
However, the language used by you is the problem we have today in this country, the rudeness and anger that is so easily utilized, with a correction being possible without using foul language.
Thank you in any case.
With the correction about Ted Cruz being a Cuban American, rather than Mexican American, that makes even more fascinating the future rivalry between Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio for leadership in the Republican Party.
It also makes one wonder about a race for support in Texas between Mexican American Julian Castro and Cuban American Ted Cruz, with the reality that Mexican Americans dominate in Texas as compared to the comparatively small Cuban American influence. So the future rivalry of Cruz vs Rubio and Cruz vs Castro will be something exciting to witness!
What ever happened to” President” Henry Cisneros and “President” Bob Martinez. I’m sure we will be saying the same in 20 years about Cruz and Castro.
I laughed when I saw this, but the difference is that with a growing Hispanic-Latino population, it is very likely that we will have a person of such heritage in the White House at some time not too distant in the future!
Duly noted. Also remember that woman constitute a majority of the population and so far only two females have made it as far as VP nominees–neither qualified candidates ; )
Cruz is to the right of the right down in Texas and Castro is the mayor of a second tier major city.
My point is that there has to be a compelling reason other than ethnic background to annoint either as future Presidential material.
I think, Paul, you should realize that San Antonio’s Julian Castro is mayor of the SEVENTH largest city in a country with 50 million Hispanics and Latinos, more reaching the age of voting every year! I would not dismiss his chances of running for the Presidency at some point in the future!
I am not trying to denigrate any candidate. Just trying to point out the inanity that someone’s ethnic background automatically assures a spot as a Presidential candidate.
Hispanics constitue 20 million registered voters. There are an 169 million registered voters in the U.S.
To assume that all Hispanic votes are homogenous doesn’t jibe. There are 50 million Hispanic/Latinos–constituting a population originating from many different countries and political differences.
There are also 42 million German-Americans in the U.S.–second in line after Latino. That should make a President of German descent a perennial event. Outside of Eishenhower, there have been no Presidents of German descent.–And he was the Commander of Allied forces mainly fighting the Germans in WWII.
Also, while San Antonio is the 7th largest city, it is 30th in population for the metropolitan area.
As Gertrude Stein said about Oakland, “There is no there, there” ; )
Will the Hispanic vote be an integral part of the electoral process? Yes. Does that mean a Hispanic candidate for President is on the horizon. Not necessarily.
I must say you make a very good case for not assuming anything! I cannot contradict what you have said! Thanks!