Longtime Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas said Friday he won’t run for reelection, a decision that came less than a day after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the state to move forward with its new congressional map. The map, drawn by Republican lawmakers, is expected to strengthen GOP control and reduce the number of safe Democratic seats.
Doggett, 79, has served in Congress since 1995, holding a district once represented by Lyndon B. Johnson. He said the court’s ruling effectively ended his path to another term, adding that he will finish his work in Washington with “urgency and determination” before retiring. He said he plans to remain active in his Austin community after leaving office.
The ruling hands Texas Republicans a major win in a long-running fight over redistricting. The new lines add several Republican-leaning districts at a time when the party has been widening its advantage in statewide elections. Democrats had warned the map would erode their influence even further.
Yellowish Green: Territory that has moved to a new district
Neon Green: Districts that were entirely unchanged
Earlier this year, Democratic state lawmakers fled Texas for Illinois, Massachusetts, and other states in an attempt to block the plan by denying the legislature a quorum. They returned only after Democratic governors, led by California’s Gavin Newsom, pledged to pursue aggressive counter-maps in blue states.
A federal district court in El Paso had halted the Texas map, calling it a racial gerrymander. But on Thursday night, the Supreme Court lifted that order in a 6-3 decision. The justices said the state can use the map while legal challenges continue, potentially giving Republicans as many as five additional seats in 2026.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the lower court had “improperly inserted itself into an active primary campaign,” creating confusion and disrupting the balance between state and federal authority. The ruling came just three days before Monday’s filing deadline for the March primaries.
Doggett sharply criticized the outcome, praising Justice Elena Kagan’s dissent and accusing President Donald Trump of backing what he called “racial gerrymandering” and other efforts to tilt future elections. He warned that “more outrageous schemes will follow.”
Though he’s stepping away from Congress, Doggett said he will keep speaking out against the map and support efforts to challenge it. “I will continue doing my part to vigorously fight back and to help others here and across the country,” he said.
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