Center stage: Rep.-elect Castro joins historic House class

Joaquín Castro (center) is joined by his girlfriend, Anna Flores (left), twin brother San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro and Erica Castro, Julián Castro’s wife, to celebrate his election victory. Joaquín Castro (center) is joined by his girlfriend, Anna Flores (left), twin brother San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro and Erica Castro, Julián Castro’s wife, to celebrate his election victory. Photo: Darren Abate, Darren Abate/For The Express-New Photo: Darren Abate, Darren Abate/For The Express-New Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Center stage: Rep.-elect Castro joins historic House class 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

WASHINGTON — One minute younger and typically at his twin brother's side, San Antonio's Joaquín Castro will take center stage this week when he takes the oath of office to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Castro is one of eight new House members from Texas who will be sworn in Thursday, four months after he was the opening act for keynote speaker Mayor Julián Castro at the Democratic National Convention.

“It will be a very special day,” Joaquín Castro said. “I didn't necessarily have it in my plans for years and years to run for Congress, but I'm looking forward for the opportunity to serve.”

He joins a freshman class that's part of a House with a record-high 35 Latino lawmakers, up from 30 in the last Congress.

All told, 82 freshmen will be sworn in to office when the House convenes: 47 Democrats and 35 Republicans.

Castro, 38, was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2002 and served five terms. A Harvard-educated lawyer and the second-born son of longtime San Antonio activist Rosie Castro, he said family and friends will attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, including his brother.

Already considered rising stars in the Democratic Party, the appearance by the Castro twins on national television at the DNC raised their political profile.

“He's probably better known than other freshmen,” Mayor Castro said of his brother. “I'm proud of him. He'll make an excellent representative for San Antonio.”

Joaquín Castro's celebrity could help him attain clout in the next Congress that could be beneficial to San Antonio, said Larry Hufford, a St. Mary's University political science professor.

More Information Which one's which? Slideshow: Is it Julián or Joaquín? Check out our photo gallery and see if you can name that Castro twin.

That clout could help him politically if he seeks a statewide office or decides to challenge freshman Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in six years.

“The demographic changes in Texas will make the Senate race winnable for a high-profile Latino Democrat,” Hufford said of a Cruz-Castro matchup.

But Castro said he is focused only on being a strong representative for San Antonio and working with other Texas lawmakers “for the benefit of the entire state.”

Castro was elected to replace Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, who did not seek re-election in the 20th Congressional District.

Pete Gallego, an Alpine Democrat and 22-year veteran of the Texas House, defeated San Antonio Republican Francisco Canseco in the 23rd Congressional District, which includes southwest and northwest San Antonio, Uvalde, Eagle Pass and communities west to El Paso.

Gallego's swearing-in ceremony will be attended by his wife, Maria Elena, and son, Nicolas, 8.

“It's all family and friends,” Gallego said.

In the Rio Grande Valley, lawyer Filemon Vela of Brownsville, a Democrat, was elected to serve in the 34th Congressional District, which spans from Port Isabel to Gonzales.

Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat, was elected to represent El Paso. Republican Randy Weber of Pearland will replace retiring Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, and Republican Steve Stockman, of Friendswood returns to Congress from East Texas.

Other new members are Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat, and Republican Roger Williams of Weatherford, who will represent portions of Austin.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat and House veteran, was elected to serve in a newly drawn congressional district that includes Austin and parts of San Antonio.

The Texas freshman class also is well acquainted.

Gallego said he served with Castro, Weber and Veasey in the Texas House, and all worked with Williams, a former Texas secretary of state.

Despite party differences, the Texas freshmen have bonded through congressional orientation.

“There was a concentrated effort on our part to get to know each other and work with each other,” Gallego said. “I think there will be a sense of camaraderie among the new members.”

The group will be immediately busy, as Congress grapples with debt reduction, the need for new federal revenue and social issues facing the House and Senate.

“I would like to make the learning curve as short as possible,” Castro said. “I would like to be a part of Congress that deals head on with the 'fiscal cliff' and immigration reform.”

gmartin@express-news.net