Vicente Gonzalez to run in different district after Abbott signs new Texas congressional map

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) will run for reelection next year in Texas' 34th District after state Republicans approved a new congressional map that makes his current 15th District much more competitive for the GOP.

Gonzalez previously floated a potential district swap after Republican state lawmakers unveiled a new congressional map that would turn his once-Democratic-leaning district into one that former President Donald Trump would have carried in 2020. He made it official on Tuesday, announcing that he would seek reelection in Texas' much-bluer 34th District, which is currently represented by retiring Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas).

Vela has said he would support Gonzalez's decision to switch districts. Gonzalez's plans were first reported on Tuesday by the Texas Tribune.

His announcement came a day after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a new congressional map that would effectively shore up the GOP's power in the state while offering little in the way of new political representation to the minority communities driving much of its growth.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/vicente-gonzalez-to-run-in-different-district-after-abbott-signs-new-texas-congressional-map/ar-AAPYPkr

[Grins]

1. That's still the loss of a district.

A Dem to replace a Dem while giving up his district to a Repuke is a net loss.

This move only serves the interests of - Gonzales.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Not necessarily.

There are already two candidates that have announced for the Democratic primary in District 15. See these threads:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/107857396
https://www.democraticunderground.com/107857434

From comments that I've read online, Gonzalez is somewhat of an intellectual lightweight. These candidates appear to have respectable credentials. The Republican nominee is likely to be the candidate that ran in 2020 and lost. While the district is less favorable to Democrats than previously, it isn't tilted so lopsidedly that it is an automatic GOP win.