Case Study: 2020 Presidential

Sec. Julián Castro

Stanford Campaigns’ research helped spark a national conversation about race and police violence.

Days before the second Democratic debate of the 2020 Presidential election, the Trump Justice Department announced that it would not bring charges against NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who in 2014 used an illegal chokehold on Eric Garner, who subsequently died due to the incident.

Our research for the Julián Castro presidential campaign led to Castro criticizing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio during the debate for his inaction during the Eric Garner case. Several other Democratic candidates immediately echoed this sentiment, sparking a greater national conversation about police violence within communities of color. Two weeks after the debate, Pantaleo was fired and five weeks later, de Blasio dropped out of the presidential race.