A House Democrat whose district was targeted by a mid-decade Republican redistricting effort hit back Tuesday with a forceful statement after a federal court struck down the effort as a racial gerrymander.
Texas Republicans plotted to draw Democratic Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar into the same Austin-based district. The move effectively targets Doggett's seat to reduce Democratic representation and boost the number of Republicans in the House.
Doggett initially said he would not seek reelection if the new redistricting map was upheld. When news dropped Tuesday that a federal judge issued a stunning ruling against the Trump-backed effort, Doggett issued what one political reporter called an "incredible statement."
Judge Jeffrey V. Brown of the District Court for the Southern District of Texas, a Trump appointee, ruled that the Republican maps drawn by the Texas state legislature were unlawful and banned them from being used in the next election.
Doggett referred to a famous author in his statement.
"To borrow from Mark Twain, the reports of my death, politically, are greatly exaggerated," he said. "This federal court order means that I have a renewed opportunity to continue serving the only town I have ever called home, as democracy faces greater challenges than at any point in my lifetime."
He cheered that both Districts 37 and 35, along with all other existing Texas districts, will remain "unchanged" for 2026.
"This is very good news for Texans, who deserve accessible and accountable representation," said Doggett.
The Democrat expressed optimism over the outcome, even if the case gets appealed to the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.
"While Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott are appealing directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, I am hopeful about the final outcome, likely announced this month, since even a Trump-appointed trial judge ruled against this racial gerrymander."