Scoop: Dems are trying to stop a "nasty" internal battle in Texas
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Rep. Lloyd Doggett speaks during a TV appearance at the U.S. Capitol on July 17. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Texas' mid-decade redistricting has left members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus scrambling to fend off what some predict would be one of the most brutal battles in the group's history, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: A new map would put the group's chair, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), and one of its longest-serving members, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), in the same district. Lawmakers fear it would be a bloodbath if they both run.
- "It'll be a nasty race, probably," said one House Democrat, who, like others quoted in this story, is a Progressive Caucus member who spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer candid thoughts about the group's sensitive internal dynamics.
- The race would be yet another front in Democrats' bitter civil war over age: Casar is 36 and seen as one of the party's rising stars, while Doggett is 78 and was first elected in 1994.
- "It's a mess," said a senior House Democrat, who told Axios that lawmakers are "carefully" nudging Doggett to bow out.
State of play: Texas Republicans have embarked on a rare mid-decade redrawing of their state's congressional maps at the urging of President Trump.
- Their aim is to pack the state's House Democrats into as few districts as possible to maximize the number of Republican seats in the state.
- Under the proposed map, five new seats that are either solidly or lean Republican would be squeezed out, leaving Casar and Doggett to fight for just one Austin-based seat.
What we're hearing: Several lawmakers noted Doggett was the first House Democrat to call on President Biden to withdraw his bid for reelection last year over concerns about his age and fitness.
- "This will be an opportunity for Lloyd to kind of take his own advice," said the first House Democrat, who warned Doggett would "taint his legacy" by running and that Casar "will win."
- A third House Democrat told Axios: "He was one of the first people to call for President Biden to step aside for new leaders, and I think this may be one of those moments."
- A fourth said that "30 years is more than enough time" in Congress, and Doggett is "a terrific legislator, but so is Casar. And Casar is just getting started."
Between the lines: "This is a perfect example of how long-serving members in our party are not willing to make room for the next generation of leaders," said the fourth House Democrat.
- "Others wish [Doggett would] step aside," the lawmaker added. "That would show leadership in a time when we desperately need it."
The other side: "Promoting this type of division and infighting is exactly what Republicans want. Greg and I are both committed to working together to stop this outrageous gerrymandering," Doggett said in a statement.
- "While CD37, in which I had already filed for reelection, continues under the new map to contain two-thirds of my current constituents, my focus remains on protecting our democracy from Trump using redistricting to elect more Republicans."
- "I hope all my CPC colleagues will also make that effort their top priority. As to President Joe Biden, I did speak out when others were silent, not about his age, but his ability and electability."
Zoom out: Democrats have vowed to fight the proposed map, including potentially with a lawsuit and by breaking quorum in the state Legislature, but those efforts would likely be long shots.
- Like Doggett, Casar has said his focus is on stopping the redistricting. His spokesperson did not provide comment on this story.
- "Congressman Doggett and I are united in fighting back against this illegal map," Casar said Wednesday on CNN.
Zoom in: Doggett, in his own CNN appearance on Thursday, began making the case for his reelection.
- "We do need young leaders, but we don't need everyone in our team to play the same position," he told host Manu Raju.
- "Some are strong on social media. Some are strong in dealing with the details of these bills and how to fight back against the Trump administration."
Flashback: Republicans have twice before targeted Doggett, redrawing his district and forcing him to run in a different, majority Hispanic district.
- Each time, new constituents returned him to Washington.
The bottom line: At the end of the day, "they both have the right to run," said the senior House Democrat, adding that the issue is "very sensitive."
- Referencing past brutal member versus member primaries, they added ominously: "We have seen this movie before."
Go deeper: Democrats' big age headache is becoming a migraine
Axios Local Managing Editor, Texas, Bob Gee contributed to this report.
