Congressional Map Averts Doggett-Castro Showdown
Rep. Lloyd Doggett will not have to campaign in San Antonio. Photo by KUT News
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
By David Martin Davies, Texas Public Radio
A just-released redrawn congressional map of Texas puts an end to the fight over the new 35th Congressional District of Texas.
When a federal court in San Antonio today issued a proposed interim map for Texas congressional districts ahead of the 2012 elections, it averted a showdown over a new district.
The race was shaping up to be between U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and State Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio.
Castro says the new map reflects the reality of Texas population growth.
“I will continue to run in the 35th Congressional District, which is still an I-35 corridor district but rather than taking in Travis County takes in all of Atascosa County and Caldwell County,” Castro said.
Castro also said he is relieved that he will not have to face Doggett in the primary.
Doggett will be able to run in his current 25th District, which has been redrawn and will include a large chunk of East Austin, the University of Texas area and much of South Austin.
“I think anytime you have two strong Democrats, or two strong Republicans in a primary for that matter, you are going to have split loyalties, and that was certainly the case with how things were shaping up here in this race between Congressman Doggett and myself,” Castro said. “So I think the opportunity to run in separate districts is a good one,”
The map released Wednesday will temporarily override plans drawn by the GOP-led Legislature. A federal court in Washington said the Legislature’s plan didn’t protect the interests of minority voters.
Republican leaders say they drew the map to benefit their party, not to hurt minorities.
Lawmakers redraw districts every 10 years to reflect changes in population growth.
Click here for a larger version of the map.
Podcast: Download (1.4MB)
