Doggett Confirms Re-Election Bid Following Ruling on Congressional Maps

Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) has indicated his intention to run for re-election next year. This decision follows a federal commission’s ruling that the newly drawn congressional maps in Texas, which favored Republican candidates, will not be implemented in the 2026 midterm elections.

“I’m pleased to share, borrowing from Mark Twain, that the rumors of my political demise have been greatly exaggerated,” Doggett remarked in a statement, which he shared on social media.

In a recent vote, the panel determined the new map was likely a case of racial gerrymandering, opting to use the congressional boundaries that were in place before this year’s redistricting efforts.

The map, approved earlier, would have allowed five additional opportunities for Republican gains in the upcoming election by merging Doggett and fellow Democrat Greg Casar into a single district in the Austin area.

This scenario would set up a contest between the 79-year-old Doggett, who previously called on former President Biden to step aside from the presidential race, and the 36-year-old Casar, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

In August, Doggett had stated he would not seek re-election if the courts validated the new map, although he acknowledged it would encompass more than two-thirds of the current voters. He previously encouraged Casar to run in the adjusted 35th Congressional District.

“I feel lucky to continue representing the only town I’ve ever called home during a period where our democracy faces unprecedented challenges,” Doggett said on Tuesday, expressing gratitude for his position.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) had pushed the state legislature to undertake a controversial redistricting process mid-decade, influenced by pressure from President Trump and Republican leaders, particularly in anticipation of a tough midterm cycle.

The recent map has triggered a wave of redistricting actions across the country, with both Democratic and Republican states reassessing their congressional boundaries.

Doggett expressed hope that the court’s decision would inspire judicial reviews of significant Republican gerrymandering practices in other states.