Castro was elected mayor of San Antonio five years ago. Castro to be tapped for HUD

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a rising star in Democratic national politics, is expected to be nominated to the post of secretary of housing and urban development, according to a source familiar with the plan.

Current HUD secretary Shaun Donovan would replace Sylvia Mathews Burwell as head of the Office of Management and Budget, according to the source.


The New York Times first reported Castro and Donovan would be offered the positions, citing Democrats informed of the plans.

A White House official said they had “no personnel announcements at this time.”

( PHOTOS: Julian and Joaquin Castro)

Castro’s hometown newspaper earlier Saturday broke the news that the potential vice presidential contender in 2016 was poised to accept a position in President Barack Obama’s cabinet, but did not say which one.

Castro “has signaled his willingness to begin a swift process of confirmation to the post,” including a vetting by the FBI that has already begun, the Express-News reported Saturday, citing knowledgeable sources.

Columnist Brian Chasnoff wrote that this is the second time in as many years that Castro, who was elected mayor five years ago, has been approached by the White House about a cabinet job. He declined a chance to become transportation secretary, but privately “he’s said an offer from the president to serve as education secretary would have proven tougher to turn down,” Chasnoff writes.

( Also on POLITICO: The Castros' national road show)

Castro declined to comment to the Express-News.

Castro was chosen by Obama to give the keynote speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. He and his brother, Rep. Joaquin Castro, have garnered widespread attention as two up-and-comers in the Democratic Party.

Last week, Hillary Clinton was asked about the possibility of tapping Julian Castro or Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as her running mate if the former secretary of state runs and wins the 2016 Democratic nomination.

“They’re both extraordinary leaders and great political advocates for a lot of what needs to be done in our country, and I admire both of them greatly,” Clinton told ABC.

Running a federal agency would make Castro a more plausible VP pick.

Jennifer Epstein contributed to this report.