U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett outside the Governor’s Mansion on August 4 picketing in response to Gov. Abbott’s redistricting scheme (photo by John Anderson)

With the Texas House Democrats returning this weekend, the Republicans’ redistricting effort is almost certain to succeed, so Austin will soon see its two congressional districts merged into one.

That means that one of our congressmen – either Lloyd Doggett or Greg Casar – will no longer represent the city after the 2026 elections. Neither representative is ready to step aside.

The Texas Tribune reported Aug. 14 that a Casar spokesperson said he planned to run to represent Austin. If the redistricting effort succeeds, that would have to be in the 37th congressional district, currently represented by Doggett, which has been carved up to include two-thirds of Doggett’s current constituents and one-third of the 35th congressional district, represented by Casar. It also reported that Doggett is suggesting that Casar run once more for CD 35. However, under the new maps, redrawn by Republicans explicitly to flip blue seats red, the 35th congressional district will include east San Antonio and nearby conservative counties that voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, making Casar’s path to re-election more difficult.

Sources tell the Chronicle that Doggett has met with local political figures and alerted them that he is ready to spend his entire $6.2 million campaign fund to fight off a primary challenge from Casar.

“He has not met with me yet, but I heard it from several people,” said Nate Walker, a lobbyist and former chief of staff for State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez. “He’s been meeting with most of the folks in progressive political circles in Austin, and one of the consistent themes I’m hearing back is that he’s telling people, ‘I’m going to spend my entire campaign account to get this done.’”

The Chronicle spoke with a separate source, who wished to remain anonymous, who confirmed hearing the same sentiment from a Doggett representative.

In a statement to the Chronicle, Doggett emphasized that he would prefer not to spend money against a fellow Democrat and explained why he felt Casar was better suited to represent the redrawn 35th congressional district.

“My strong preference is to use my campaign funds to help others in our struggle against Trump tyranny,” Doggett said. “Trump reconfigured CD 35 as 57% Hispanic; Joe Biden got 49% against Trump. As the incumbent, Rep. Casar can bring a message to the disaffected, which we can all join in creating a national model for turning the Trump tide. If he does not surrender CD 35 to Trump, both of our progressive voices can remain united to prevent a Trump takeover. If I am primaried in CD 37, more than 2/3rds of whose residents I represent today, I should have the resources to get my message to our neighbors and still be able to continue supporting Democrats willing to take the fight to Republicans, not their allies.”

A spokesperson for Casar declined comment for this article. However, in an email to supporters obtained by the Chronicle, Casar’s chief of staff, Stephanie Trinh, refuted the idea that he should run in the newly drawn CD 35. “Other than the fact that Republicans arbitrarily assigned this seat the same number as Greg’s current one, there’s no reason it would make sense for Greg to run in that district,” Trinh wrote. “Fewer than 10% of Greg’s constituents would be in it, and it does not include any part of Austin, the city Greg has called home since college and represented for the past decade.”

A contest between Doggett and Casar would be generational, pitting a lifelong public servant against one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party. The 78-year-old Doggett entered politics in 1973 at the age of 27, when he was elected to the Texas Senate. He has represented Austin in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1995. Casar, who is 36, won a spot on the Austin City Council in 2014 and was elected to Congress three years ago. He is the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a capable fundraiser nationwide.

Both men are expected to appear at Saturday’s Fight the Trump Takeover rally at the Texas Capitol, part of a nationwide day of protest against the Trump administration.