New Texas Congressional Map Sends Two Democratic Progressives into a Vicious Battle to Remain in The U.S. House

The Texas Senate approved new congressional lines on Tuesday following weeks of criticism of the rare mid-decade redistricting effort to maintain GOP majority in the U.S. House. While the move quickly angered Democrats across the country, it also pitted two progressive stars against each other, battling for the same district.

The new district lines essentially combined Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) districts into one, resulting in an unexpected battle between the two lawmakers.

"They are going to be vicious," one senior House Democrat told Axios, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts on a sensitive internal battle. The lawmaker predicted it will be Democrats' most brutal member vs. member primary since California Reps. Brad Sherman and Howard Berman faced off in 2012, or when Michigan Reps. John Dingell and Lynn Rivers fought over a seat in 2002.

The Democratic primary battle with the two lawmakers has not been made official yet. Doggett and Casar have had a close political alliance, with Casar still touting Doggett's endorsement on his campaign website as of Wednesday. Still, the Progressive Caucus is on edge.

"Most of us are trying to stay out," a senior House progressive wrote to Axios.

"It's way too early to dish on this for me," another one said.

Casar and Doggett would share a single Austin-based district under the new congressional map that Republican state legislators in Texas are proposing. Both lawmakers are angling to run in the new 37th district, which would be heavily Democratic and centered in Austin, according to Axios.

https://www.latintimes.com/new-texas-congressional-map-sends-two-democratic-progressives-vicious-battle-remain-us-house-588409