Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX)—a high-profile member of the progressive “Squad” and chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus—now risks being drawn out of his district under a GOP-led redistricting plan moving through the Texas legislature this week.
The new map, released Wednesday, would redraw boundaries to add five seats carried by President Trump by 10 points or more in 2024, significantly boosting Republicans’ chances of retaining their House majority after the midterms.
Casar secured his seat in the 2022 midterms with support from progressive leaders like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and fellow Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), winning 73% of the vote against his Republican challenger.
Casar’s 35th District winds from San Antonio to Austin, encompassing a traditionally blue corridor that was represented by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) prior to the 2020 redistricting.
Republicans are eyeing the redraw as an opportunity to unseat Casar and other outspoken Democrats such as Rep. Al Green (D-TX)—the 77-year-old lawmaker removed from the chamber during President Trump’s March address—by dismantling Green’s 9th District altogether.
While Casar may lack the national profile of some Squad members, he has consistently aligned with their progressive agenda, sponsoring or voting for bills to redirect funding away from police departments and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
On Monday, Casar met with San Antonio officials to raise concerns over ICE’s presence outside the city courthouse, calling the agency’s practice of waiting to apprehend undocumented individuals attending legal proceedings “disturbing.”
“I just witnessed the most disturbing government proceedings I’ve ever seen,” Casar told KSAT after a Venezuelan national was apprehended following a court appearance.
Last week, tensions ran high at the Texas Capitol as lawmakers held a public hearing on a plan to redraw the state’s congressional map just four years after the last one was finalized. The new map heavily favors Republicans and could add as many as five new GOP-controlled seats.
The five-hour hearing, hosted by the Texas House Redistricting Committee, drew dozens of speakers from across the state, CBS Austin reported. Not a single person spoke in favor of the redistricting effort.
The most dramatic moment came at the end, when District 18 congressional candidate Isaiah Martin was forcibly removed by Capitol security after refusing to stop speaking when his two-minute limit ran out.
“The sergeants are directed to remove the gentleman from the room,” said Chairman Cody Vasut, as Martin struggled with security and shouted, “History will not remember you for what you have done!”
According to online jail records, Martin was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety and is now facing charges of criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, and disrupting an official meeting.
His brother posted on social media that Isaiah may be in jail for up to three days.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) claims the mid-cycle redistricting is necessary to address constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ flagged four Democratic-held, majority-minority districts as potential legal issues.
But many speakers rejected that reasoning.
“We deserve representation,” said Gabriel Rosales, Texas director for the League of United Latin American Citizens. “It is your responsibility to allow for diversity to be a part of the representation that we have going to Congress.”
Republican members of the committee barely engaged with those testifying, according to a report. At times, GOP state lawmakers were seen checking their phones or talking among themselves, frustrating Democratic panel members.
“I guess we’ll see at the end of this process whether the people sitting around these dioses are listening to this or whether it’s a kangaroo court.” Rep. Jolanda Jones complained.
No draft maps were released during the hearing.