Greg Casar
Democrat Representative of Texas's 35th district
Representative
Texas, district 35
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025
1
Congresses Served
1
House Terms
May 4, 1989 (35 years old)
Birthday
- Became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023
- Served on the Austin City Council from 2015 to 2022
- Endorsed by the Working Families Party and an unendorsed member of the Democratic Socialists of America
- First elected to the Austin City Council in 2014 and reelected in 2016 and 2020
- Born in Houston to immigrant parents from Mexico and raised in Bellaire
- Attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and earned a BA in political science and social thought from the University of Virginia
- Began activism in college, organizing for a living wage for university workers
- Worked as policy director for the Workers Defense Project before entering politics
- Led policy efforts on affordable housing, paid sick leave, living wage increases, tenant organizing, immigrant rights, criminal justice reforms, and police accountability as a city council member
- Chaired the board of Local Progress, a network of progressive elected officials
- Won the Democratic primary for Congress with about 60% of the vote, endorsed by national progressives
- Advocated for better heat protection laws and participated in a thirst strike
- Member of several caucuses including the Congressional Equality Caucus, Congressional Freethought Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Served on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Agriculture
- Led efforts to “ban the box” for fair chance hiring and initiated policy changes to make Austin a “Freedom City” for immigrants
- Pushed for the elimination of juvenile curfew penalties and police reform in Austin
- Supported affordable housing initiatives and tenant organizing, including the “Affordability Unlocked” ordinance
- Actively involved in immigrant rights advocacy and opposed Texas Senate Bill 4
- Expressed support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and does not support the BDS movement
- Advocated for a living wage and paid sick leave for workers
- Voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and supported removing U.S. troops from Syria