Lloyd Doggett

Lloyd Doggett is a Democratic U.S. Representative serving Texas's 37th congressional district, centered in Austin. Born in Austin on October 6, 1946, he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he served as student body president and earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration, graduating first in his class, and a Juris Doctor with honors. His early political career included serving in the Texas State Senate from 1973 to 1985, where he was a member of the 'Killer Bees' group that opposed a plan to move the state's presidential primary. He also served as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court from 1989 to 1994 before his election to Congress. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, Doggett has become the dean of the Texas congressional delegation. Throughout his tenure, he has held a senior position on the House Ways and Means Committee, currently serving as the ranking member of its Health Subcommittee. He is recognized for his legislative work on consumer protection, having authored the law creating the Texas Commission on Human Rights and federal legislation aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. He has successfully represented several variations of Central Texas districts following numerous rounds of redistricting over his three-decade career in federal office.

Doggett's policy positions are consistently aligned with progressive Democratic priorities. In healthcare, he is a staunch advocate for the Affordable Care Act and has championed legislation to allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. He supports expanding social safety nets, including Social Security and Medicare, and opposes any efforts toward their privatization. On environmental issues, he advocates for aggressive action against climate change, supporting clean energy initiatives and opposing expanded offshore drilling. His economic platform emphasizes a progressive tax code, closing corporate tax loopholes that incentivize outsourcing, and increasing federal investment in public infrastructure and education. Regarding immigration, Doggett supports comprehensive reform with a pathway to citizenship for 'Dreamers' and has been a vocal critic of restrictive border policies and family separations. He also maintains a consistent record of supporting reproductive rights, gun control measures such as universal background checks, and expanded civil rights protections for the LGBTQ+ community.