Joaquín Castro: 5 Things To Know About New Latino Democrat Icon

Joaquín Castro's twin brother Julian delivered the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention and the freshman Congressman from San Antonio said he often is mistaken for his minute-older brother. While many have familiarized themselves with Julian, there are a number of reasons to remember his equally important twin, Joaquín.

The Business Insider named Joaquín Castro one of the most fascinating new members of Congress. And while many remember his brother's frank and candid speech in Charlotte last year, Joaquín Castro told the Texas Tribune when asked about possibly competing with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for the junior senate seat in 2018.

"I just believe that if I work hard and do well, who knows what the future holds," he said simply.

But like his brother, Joaquín couldn't resist taking a swipe at his outspoken prospective competitors, in this case, Sen. Cruz.

"You can't just be stuck in one mode where you're always the shrill outsider screaming at everybody," he said, referencing his dismay with the way he perceived Cruz's intent questioning of the Obama administration's recent cabinet appointees.

Joaquin Castro was named president of the democratic freshman "class" in Congress in 2013, and has already been assigned to the powerful House Armed Services Committee. Though he is just beginning his time in Congress, he blurs no lines when it comes to his politics. He recently hired a former aide to Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as his chief of staff, cementing him on the left side of the Democratic Party. His press secretary used to be employed by the equally liberal Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. Some have said that the ability for a freshman to surround himself with aides of the party leadership that his new Congressional post may indeed be something special.

However, unlike some on the left, Joaquin Castro gave a nod to the need for his party's leadership, including President Obama, to encourage more bipartisan deliberation on solving the nation's problems. He took a step outside the safe bounds of anonymity and offered some light criticism of recent dealings over the "sequester" spending cuts.

"I think you've got to bring everybody to the table. We're going to have to figure out a way to make sure that we're dealing with our debt in a long-term way that's not squeezing everything into this short period of time," Joaquin Castro told the National Journal.

He continued, saying that if his party gives in a little in future fiscal debates, that the Republican opposition would be willing to work to find ways to cut the deficit.

"We believed that we are hopeful, that [Republicans] will give on some of these tax loopholes," he said, urging constructive discussion between the parties.