Congressman Lloyd Doggett—Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat from Austin, Texas, is running for reelection to the United States Congress.

What the Supreme Court Decision Means

Posted January 22, 2012

A lot of folks have asked me what I think today’s Supreme Court opinion means.  Below is a helpful post from the Burnt Orange Report.  I hope, after reading it, you will click on the Get Involved button to sign-up to join my campaign.

Sincerely,
Lloyd

“There is good news and bad news.  The good news is that only Justice Clarence Thomas insisted on imposing the crooked Perrymandered map and rejecting the vital preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act.  The bad news is that the Supreme Court did not affirm every aspect of the ruling by Judges Garcia and Rodriquez in San Antonio, so our primary election is not likely to proceed on April 3.  Yet nothing in the Supreme Court order precludes a final congressional map like that already drawn by this San Antonio court.  Republican comments to the contrary are wishful thinking at best. The mishandling of this matter by Rick Perry and Greg Abbott may unfortunately again delay this election, but it need not prevent full implementation of the Voting Rights Act to assure fair treatment of our Hispanic and African American neighbors. Better later and right than earlier and wrong.”

“However the final lines are drawn, I will seek reelection wherever most of my constituents live.  That is CD 25 composed of substantial parts of Travis and Hays Counties under the court map and CD35 under the Perrymandered map.  To ensure that our shared progressive values continue to be advanced in Washington, I will continue working hard every day.  I have been in San Antonio this week, like last week, and next week, and at every future opportunity.  With active campaign offices in both San Antonio and Austin, I need all the volunteer help we can get now at each.  I want to be as strong an advocate for working families in other parts of the I-35 corridor as I have been for the communities that I already serve in Congress.”

Republicans are so determined to draw Lloyd Doggett out of Congress that they hacked Austin and Travis County into five Congressional districts with their illegal racist gerrymandered map. This isn’t the first time Doggett’s district has had to be re-drawn by the courts. In 2006, SCOTUS threw out Tom DeLay’s mid-decade redistricting that forced Doggett into a district that ran from Austin to Mexico. That district was redrawn into the current CD-25. That district was warped by the Republican legislature into a conservative monstrosity running from Fort Worth to Austin.Memo to Republicans: Doggett won’t quit, and every time you try to draw him out, he just keeps fighting back. Maybe you should give up and get a new legislative priority other than forcing out Central Texas’ progressive voice in Congress?

State’s maps: Detestable paternalism

Posted January 8, 2012 from San Antonio Express-News

By O. Ricardo Pimentel

U.S. Supreme Court justices have an opportunity to make a bold statement either for or against the kind of game rigging that has been going on throughout the country every 10 years.

This is commonly referred to as redistricting but, in practice and in effect, is better known as gerrymandering.

On Monday, the highest court will hear arguments on Texas redistricting cum gerrymandering.

The issue is whether Texas, with a history of discrimination against minority voters, will be able to use redistricting maps that haven’t been pre-cleared to determine if they are discriminatory, per the Voting Rights Act. If the court allows this, it will have to set aside interim maps drawn by a federal panel of judges in San Antonio and do much damage to the Act in the process. Read More »

Congressman Doggett Files for Reelection

Posted December 19, 2011

A message from Congressman Doggett:

Best to you for the holidays.  During this special season, I certainly have much for which to be thankful.  First and foremost is a wonderful family and friends and neighbors across Texas, who have stood with me during these recent challenging months.  Who would have guessed that even as we enter the new year, we have neither a definite congressional map nor a certain date for the primary election?  The sole cause of this delay and confusion is the Republican effort to subvert the Voting Rights Act.  With your encouragement, I am prepared to meet any challenge the Republicans present.

Because I believe that Federal Judges Orlando Garcia and Xavier Rodriquez acted properly in reuniting San Antonio neighborhoods, removing District 35 from Austin, and reuniting District 25 as a compact Travis-Hays County district, I have formally filed for reelection in District 25. If the Republican map is once again imposed, I will seek reelection along the I-35 corridor, from San Antonio to Austin, in District 35, about half of which I have represented in Congress.  We have to be ready to campaign in either district or some new one that the courts design.  I have particular confidence in having my work evaluated by those who know me best.  For six months, I have been especially focused on reaching out to those whom I have not previously served in Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe Counties through neighborhood meetings and Democratic gatherings.   I will continue doing that with an active presence in San Antonio and by maintaining campaign offices in both San Antonio and Austin.

Districts may change, but my commitment to stand firmly for our shared values will not.  Thanks so much.