Coronavirus: Stepmother of Julián and Joaquin Castro dies from COVID-19, congressman says

The stepmother of former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro and his twin brother, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, has died from coronavirus, the Texas congressman announced on Twitter late Thursday.

“My stepmom, Alice Guzman, passed away today from COVID-19,” Joaquin Castro tweeted. “She and my dad were married for 31 years.”

He described Guzman as a "warm, loving person" whom the family will miss "incredibly." The post also included a photo of Guzman posing with the congressman's daughter.

"My heart goes out to the families who've lost loved ones to this terrible illness," he added.

Minutes later, Julián Castro, the former Housing and Urban Development secretary who ended his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in January, replied, "May she rest in peace."

No further details about Guzman were immediately available.

The Castro brothers, both 45, are San Antonio natives. As of early Friday, their home state of Texas had reported more than 236,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 3,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Texas also set single-day records for coronavirus-related deaths and hospitalizations Thursday, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Cox Media Group