Political Tensions Emerge in Mid-Texas Rezoning
In a significant push for rezoning in mid-Texas, senior House Democrats are urging their younger, more progressive colleagues to support the continuation of Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s political career. This comes as a GOP-drawn map threatens to place two Democratic representatives into the same district.
Doggett, a Democrat from Texas, announced Monday his intention to run for his 17th term in Congress. The newly proposed map creates just one secure Democratic seat in Austin, leading to what might become a fierce primary battle. Doggett seems to be encouraging his fellow Democrat, Greg Casar, to consider running in more Republican-friendly areas to avoid this conflict.
“If this questionable map is approved, we hope Rep. Casar won’t abandon the reconfigured CD35. He stands as the only incumbent we have,” Doggett stated. He added that without Casar’s established support, the seat could fall to less competitive Democratic candidates.
Doggett explained his situation: “I’m facing challenges here in Austin, but I’m ready to defend my progressive record and my commitment to this city.” Meanwhile, Texas Republicans are eyeing opportunities in the new congressional landscape, specifically looking to draw both Doggett and Casar into the Austin mix. So far, GOP plans have stalled as Democrats have strategically relocated to deny a quorum at the Capitol.
Defending his decision to seek reelection, Doggett pointed out that about two-thirds of current constituents will remain in what’s been reshaped as the 37th Congressional District.
Conversely, Casar’s current 35th District will now only encompass less than 10% of his existing constituents and will branch into areas that tend to favor Republican candidates. In fact, under this revised zoning, Trump would have won that district by about 15 percentage points in the last election, according to Texas Tribune.
Doggett maintains that Casar represents the Democratic Party’s best chance to keep the 35th District, fearing that internal conflicts may weaken their position. Still, Casar appears to be gearing up to vie against Doggett for a secure blue seat instead of running in a district tilting towards Trump.
Casar, responding to Doggett’s statements on social media, expressed his love for Texas and hinted that he might need to reconsider his challenges. Texas Republicans have notably altered the 35th District, shifting its base from Austin to San Antonio.
This developing rivalry between Doggett and Casar showcases rifts that extend beyond mere age differences, especially in light of the current political climate after Biden’s administration. Doggett, at 78, has publicly called for Biden to reconsider his reelection bid following a perceived poor debate performance, while also advocating for progressive causes throughout his time in the Progressive Caucus since 1994. He represents a seat once held by the late President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Casar, on the other hand, at just 36, is emerging as a key figure in the party, leading a left-leaning group and aligning with prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as part of the progressive “Squad.”
Despite urging for fresh leadership, Doggett argues his lengthy experience in Congress should be seen as a strength, especially in navigating battles against Republican policies.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from representatives of either Doggett or Casar regarding these developments.
