White House hopeful Julián Castro defended being on Fox News for a town hall earlier this week, saying Saturday that while he disagrees with the channel’s ideological bent, he wants to reach out to conservative voters who may watch.

“I’m very progressive. I’ve shown that when I’ve been out there on the stump and in the policies that we’ve rolled out. But I also respect what other people believe and I know that if we’re going to get great things done for the country, it’s going to take working with the other side,” the former Housing and Urban Development secretary said Saturday on MSNBC.

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“Everybody has their own way of thinking about these things. I definitely take the concerns about Fox news, and I understand completely how people feel. But what I’m focused on is not the news organization, what I’m focused on are the people out there watching.”

Castro, who is languishing near the bottom of national and statewide primary polls, was the fifth 2020 candidate to appear in a Fox News town hall, following Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand Kirsten GillibrandSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Suburban moms are going to decide the 2020 election Jon Stewart urges Congress to help veterans exposed to burn pits MORE (D-N.Y.) and Amy Klobuchar Amy Klobuchar3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Social media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE (D-Minn.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice MORE (D).

Appearances on the channel have become a source of controversy since the Democratic National Committee announced in March that that the party would not allow Fox News to host any of its presidential primary debates in the 2020 election cycle.

Several candidates have refused going on Fox News for individual events, citing the channel’s primetime programming that strongly backs the White House.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.) last month blasted Fox News as a “hate-for-profit machine,” saying she would not help it profit off of an appearance from her.