Longtime U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett will run in the Austin area's new congressional district

[TexasTowelie]

by Patrick Svitek and Abby Livingston, Texas Tribune


Longtime U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, has decided to run for reelection in Texas' 37th Congressional District, opting to vie for one of Texas' two new congressional districts — a bright-blue seat concentrated in Austin — rather than his current district, which reaches down to San Antonio.

Doggett announced the decision Sunday in an email to supporters and then shared it in person Monday outside Bryker Woods Elementary School in Austin.

“Nobody, me included, has any entitlement to public office, but Bryker Woods does issue reports cards," Doggett said, "and I’m ready for my neighbors to grade my service in Congress and my devotion to the families of this city."

Doggett currently represents the 35th Congressional District, which runs from Austin down along Interstate 35 to San Antonio. The proposed 37th District is far more compact, contained almost entirely within Travis County, home to Austin. Both are currently safely Democratic districts — and likely to remain so after redistricting.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/17/lloyd-doggett-austin-congress-2022/

Unfortunately, that puts the 35th Congressional District into play for the GOP so the +1 that Democrats were hoping to gain by taking the 37th Congressional District is likely offset if the GOP takes the seat.

[LeftInTX]

1. The 35th is now gerrymandered Democratic!

Another Democrat will step in, unless the GOP redraw the maps in 2 days!

[TexasTowelie]

2. I hope that it is,

but when they drew up Doggett's district after the last census the 35th was gerrymandered GOP. The only reason Doggett held on to the district is that he is so awesome even the Repukes couldn't counter. Democrats would be in better shape with an incumbent in the 35th CD though while Democrats in Austin elect someone that may not have the name recognition.