WASHINGTON _ Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro said Monday he is backing Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president, just days after dropping out of the race.
Castro said in a Twitter post that they both share a vision of an America "where people _ not the wealthy or well-connected _ are put first." He said in an accompanying video that there's one candidate he sees "who's unafraid to fight like hell to make sure America's promise will be there for everyone."
"That's why I'm proud to endorse Elizabeth Warren for president," Castro said.
Castro is one of the few former candidates who have made an official endorsement for president. Sens. Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio have yet to voice support for one candidate.
In a post announcing his exit, O'Rourke said he would work to ensure the eventual Democratic nominee is successful in defeating President Donald Trump.
"I can tell you firsthand from having the chance to know the candidates, we will be well served by any one of them," he said. "I'm going to be proud to support whoever that nominee is."
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, who ran on a climate change platform, also declined to support an individual nominee. In an appearance on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show," Inslee said he would endorse the Democratic candidate, "no matter who it is."
In a September interview with the Democrat and Chronicle, New York Sen. Gillibrand said she would "endorse someone at some point."
"I'm going to endorse the person who I think will, number one, be the best president and, number two, who can beat Trump," she told the newspaper.
Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who dropped out in October, is one of the few former candidates who have made an endorsement. He said on MSNBC that he was convinced former Vice President Joe Biden is the person to beat Trump.
"I'm going to support him, I'm going to do everything I can for him in the early states and in the Midwest to help him become the nominee and beat Donald Trump," Ryan said.
