Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a longtime House Democrat and senior member of the Ways and Means Committee with a progressive track record, will no longer run for reelection to his current seat if Texas Republicans’ redrawn legislative maps aren’t shot down in court.
Under the mid-decade redistricting plans, which are still working their way through the Texas Legislature, Doggett would be drawn into a district that combines Democrats’ two existing Austin districts into a single seat. The move would have teed up a primary between Doggett, whose current district covers around two-thirds of the city, and Rep. Greg Casar, a younger progressive who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and whose current district encompasses Austin’s east side and portions of San Antonio.
Doggett’s Thursday announcement comes as Texas Republicans’ redistricting plan barrels toward approval by the state legislature. The Texas House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve the redistricting map, and a Texas Senate committee advanced the redistricting bill to the full Senate on Thursday with a favorable recommendation. Republicans overwhelmingly control the Texas legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott has also backed the redistricting effort, though court challenges could still prevent the map from taking effect.
