In the midst of a mid-decade redistricting push by Texas Republicans, a senior House Democrat is fighting to keep his congressional seat.
The proposed GOP-drawn map could potentially pit two Democratic colleagues against each other in the same district, leading to a tense political standoff.
Veteran Democratic Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett announced on Monday his intention to run for a 17th term in Congress, despite the looming threat of a primary challenge from fellow Democratic Texas Representative Greg Casar.
The redrawn map would leave only one secure Democratic seat in Austin, Texas, potentially sparking a fierce primary battle. Doggett is attempting to sidestep this by encouraging Casar to run for a neighboring seat that is firmly in Republican hands.
Doggett expressed his concerns in a statement on Monday, saying, "If this sorry Trump map for Texas is eventually approved, I remain hopeful that Congressman Casar will not abandon his reconfigured CD35 [35th congressional district], in which he is the only incumbent. Without Gregs power of incumbency and ability to attract support, this seat could be lost by a weaker Democratic nominee."
He further stated, "[I]f I am challenged in Austin, I stand ready to vigorously and forcefully defend my progressive pay-as-you-go record and my commitment to the only city I have ever called home. Never give up, never give in!"
According to the Daily Caller, Texas Republicans are hoping to gain five seats with the proposed congressional map that would place Doggett and Casar in the same district based in Austin, Texas. The redistricting effort backed by the GOP has been temporarily halted due to Democrats denying Republicans a quorum in the state House by leaving the state for Democratic strongholds across the country.
Doggett has justified his reelection bid by pointing out that two-thirds of his current constituents would remain in the newly drawn 37th congressional district. The proposed map would redraw Texas 35th congressional district, currently represented by Casar, to include less than 10% of Casars current constituents while extending into Republican-leaning areas. The Texas Tribune reports that Trump would have won the newly drawn district by approximately 15 percentage points in the last election.
Doggett has also suggested that Casar is the Democrats only chance of retaining the 35th congressional district and that a potential primary contest would only serve to divide the party. However, Casar seems to be indicating that he would prefer to challenge Doggett for the safe Democratic seat rather than run in a district favoring Trump.
Following Doggetts statement urging Casar to reconsider a primary challenge, Casar responded on social media platform X, saying, I love you Austin Texas. It is noteworthy that Texas Republicans have redrawn the 35th congressional district to be based in San Antonio rather than Austin.
A potential primary showdown between Doggett and Casar could also underscore ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over age and seniority, particularly in the wake of former President Joe Bidens visible decline in office. The two Texas Democrats are separated in age by more than four decades.
Doggett, 78, was the first House Democrat to publicly urge Biden to suspend his presidential reelection bid following a disastrous debate performance. He is a long-standing member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and was first elected to the House in 1994, representing a similar Austin-based House seat to the one once held by former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Casar, 36, currently chairs a left-wing group and is seen by many Democrats as a rising star in the party who is just beginning his congressional career. He is also the only remaining male member of the Squad, an informal far-left faction of Democratic House members, which includes notable figures such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
Despite leading the call for Biden to drop his reelection bid, Doggett maintains that his over 30 years in Congress should be viewed as an advantage in a potential primary battle against Casar. He stated, In Congress, seniority is an asset, not a liability. In a House again controlled by Democrats, seniority is power. And in fighting Republican shenanigans, experience is an asset.
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