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Greg Casar

Greg Casar

Image of Greg Casar

Candidate, U.S. House Texas District 35

U.S. House Texas District 35

Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Prior offices

Austin City Council District 4

Compensation

Elections and appointments

Personal

Contact

Greg Casar (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Texas' 35th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2023. His current term ends on January 3, 2027.

Casar (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 35th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.[source]

Biography

Greg Casar earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. Casar's career experience includes working as the policy director of the Workers Defense Project.[1][2] Casar served as the chair of the Austin City Council's Planning and Neighborhoods Committee, the vice chair of the Public Safety Committee, a member of the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, and a board member of the progressive municipal policy network Local Progress.[3][4]

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023
Vote Bill and description Status
Red x.svg Nay
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 22, 2023, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2024. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to pass the bill as amended by a Senate and House conference report.[5]

Yes check.svg Passed (310-118)
Red x.svg Nay
To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes. 

H.R. 185 (To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to nullify a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order restricting the entry of foreign citizens to the United States unless the individual was vaccinated against the coronavirus or attested they would take public health measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.[6]

Yes check.svg Passed (227-201)
Red x.svg Nay
Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 

The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to raise the federal debt limit before a June 5, 2023, deadline. The bill also sought to repeal certain green energy tax credits, increase domestic natural gas and oil production, expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, and nullify President Joe Biden's (D) proposed student loan debt cancellation program. This bill was not taken up in the Senate, and the debt limit was instead raised through the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.[7]

Yes check.svg Passed (217-215)
Red x.svg Nay
Denouncing the horrors of socialism. 

H.Con.Res. 9 (Denouncing the horrors of socialism.) was a resolution approved by the House of Representatives denouncing socialism and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.[8]

Yes check.svg Passed (328-86)
Red x.svg Nay
Lower Energy Costs Act 

The Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to increase domestic energy production and exports by increasing the production of oil, natural gas, and coal, reducing permitting restrictions for pipelines, refineries, and other energy projects, and increase the production of minerals used in electronics, among other energy production-related policies. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.[9]

Yes check.svg Passed (225-204)
Red x.svg Nay
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights". 

H.J.Res. 30 (Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and vetoed by President Joe Biden (D) on March 20, 2023. This was Biden's first veto of his presidency. The resolution sought to nullify a Department of Labor rule that amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow retirement plans to consider certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment-related decisions. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.[10] Click here to read more.

Yes check.svg Passed (219-200)
Red x.svg Nay
Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. 

H.J.Res. 7 (Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 10, 2023. The resolution ended the national coronavirus state of emergency, which began on March 13, 2020. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.[11] Click here to read more.

Yes check.svg Passed (229-197)
Red x.svg Nay
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 

The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 3, 2023. The bill raised the federal debt limit until January 2025. The bill also capped non-defense spending in fiscal year 2024, rescinded unspent coronavirus relief funding, rescinded some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funding, enhanced work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF), simplified environmental reviews for energy projects, and ended the student loan debt repayment pause in August 2023. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.[12] Click here to read more.

Yes check.svg Passed (314-117)
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)
Speaker of the House election (January 2023) - 15th vote 

In January 2023, the House of Representatives held its regular election for Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th Congress. Voting began on January 3, and ended on January 7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected speaker of the House in a 216-212 vote during the 15th round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.[13] Click here to read more.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (216-212)
Yes check.svg Yea
Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant. 

H.Res. 757 (Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as Speaker of the House. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.[14] Click here to read more.

Yes check.svg Passed (216-210)
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)
Speaker of the House election (October 2023) - 4th vote 

In October 2023, following Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) removal as Speaker of the House, the House of Representatives held another election for the position. Voting began on October 17 and ended on October 25. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected Speaker of the House in a 220-209 vote in the fourth round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.[15] Click here to read more.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) (220-209)
Red x.svg Nay
Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes. 

H.Res. 918 (Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that formally authorized an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden (D). The inquiry focused on allegations that Biden used his influence as vice president from 2009 to 2017 to improperly profit from his son Hunter Biden's business dealings. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.[16] Click here to read more.

Yes check.svg Passed (221-212)
Yes check.svg Yea
Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives. 

H.Res. 878 (Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from office following a House Ethics Committee investigation that determined there was substantial evidence that Santos violated the law during his 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.[17]

Yes check.svg Passed (311-114)

Elections

2026

See also: Texas' 35th Congressional District election, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: Texas' 35th Congressional District election, 2024

Texas' 35th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

Texas' 35th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Democratic primary)

General election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary runoff election

Democratic primary election

Republican primary election

Libertarian convention

Endorsements

Casar received the following endorsements.

  • Texas AFL-CIO

2022

See also: Texas' 35th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary runoff election

Democratic primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Libertarian convention

Endorsements

Casar received endorsements from the following people and organizations for 2022:[18]

  • Working Families Party
  • Wendy Davis, former Texas State Senator
  • Steve Adler, Austin Mayor
  • Juan Miguel Arredondo, San Marcos CISD Trustee
  • Teri Castillo, San Antonio City Council Member
  • Paige Ellis, Austin City Council Member
  • Kevin Foster, Austin ISD Board Trustee
  • Vanessa Fuentes, Austin City Council Member
  • Alyssa Garza, San Marcos City Council Member
  • Delia Garza, Travis County Attorney
  • José Garza, Travis County District Attorney
  • Stephanie Gharakhanian, Austin Community College Trustee
  • Natasha Harper-Madison, Austin Mayor Pro Tem
  • Sean Hassan, Austin Community College Trustee
  • Ann Kitchen, Austin City Council Member
  • Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, San Antonio City Council Member
  • José Rodríguez, former Texas State Senator

2020

See also: City elections in Austin, Texas (2020)

General election

2016

See also: Municipal elections in Austin, Texas (2016)

The city of Austin, Texas, held elections for city council on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 22, 2016. Five of the ten city council seats were up for election.[19] Incumbent Gregorio Casar defeated Gonzalo Camacho and Louis Herrin III in the Austin City Council District 4 general election.[20]

Austin City Council, District 4 General Election, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Gregorio Casar Incumbent 60.89% 7,328
Gonzalo Camacho 22.93% 2,760
Louis Herrin III 16.18% 1,947
Total Votes 12,035
Source: "Travis County", "Travis County Election Results", accessed November 8, 2016

Endorsements

Casar received endorsements from the following in 2016:[21]

  • AFSCME
  • AURA
  • Austin Firefighters Association
  • Austin Laborers Union Local 753
  • Austin Young Democrats
  • Austin-Travis County EMS
  • Central Labor Council
  • Education Austin
  • IBEW Local 520
  • Workers Defense Action Fund

2014

The city of Austin held elections for city council on November 4, 2014. The candidate filing deadline was August 18, 2014. Because of redistricting and term limits, there was no incumbent for District 4.[22] Candidates included Gregorio Casar, Katrina M. Daniel, Monica A. Guzman, Louis C. Herrin III, Marco Mancillas, Sharon E. Mays, Roberto Perez, Jr. and Laura Pressley. Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the general election, the top two vote-getters - Casar and Pressley - faced each other in a runoff election on December 16, 2014.[23][24] Casar was the winner.[25]

Austin City Council, District 4, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Casar 38.6% 3,272
Green check mark transparent.pngLaura Pressley 21.6% 1,826
Katrina M. Daniel 16.2% 1,369
Monica A. Guzman 6.6% 556
Louis C. Herrin III 2.6% 224
Marco Mancillas 0.9% 77
Sharon E. Mays 8.5% 720
Roberto Perez, Jr. 5% 426
Total Votes 7,247
Source: Travis County Clerk - 2014 Official Election Results

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

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2024

Candidate Connection

Greg Casar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Casar's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Congressman Greg Casar is a progressive Democrat fighting for working families in the U.S. House (TX-35).

  • Let's build an inclusive democracy for all.
  • Let's win economic justice for working families.
  • Let's fix our power grid and create a sustainable world for all.

A former labor organizer, Casar fights for an economy that works for working families, not big corporations. The proud son of Mexican immigrants, he has passed policies to protect families from being separated, and is a champion for civil rights and voting rights for all people.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Greg Casar did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Greg Casar did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2016

Casar's 2016 campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

Fight to get off the list of most segregated cities in America The Martin Prosperity Institute recently put our metropolitan area at the top of their segregated cities list. In Greg’s first term in office, he led on over a dozen housing initiatives to fight back against this ranking. In his next term Greg will work every day to make sure these new initiatives make us the integrated, inclusive city that Austinites want to be a part of.

Make Austin and District 4 the Capital of Opportunity District 4 is full of creative talent, entrepreneurial working-class and middle-class families, and plenty of schoolkids. We’re the future of Austin. But too often, we don’t have the sort of support and infrastructure to capitalize on our strengths. New initiatives like Austin Community College’s new campus at the Highland Mall and Family Resource Centers located at more of North Austin’s schools can make sure that our residents get to be an integral part of Austin’s prosperity. We can support these initiatives and others, including new local business districts, after school programming, and cultural and social services hubs.

Push back against misguided state leadership Our statewide elected leadership is hurting Austinites. Instead of properly funding our schools, setting up a fair taxing system, or supporting public transportation, our state leadership has made noise over bathroom bills. In the wake of a dysfunctional Congress and misguided state leadership, it’s our job as a progressive city to come up with solutions. We should support new city funding for programs that support schoolkids, workplace protections for our community, and a better taxing and appraisal system that puts less of the burden on working families and seniors.

Build transportation infrastructure for our future We need to make major investments in our transportation infrastructure. Greg believes that in the coming years, we need to make over a billion dollars in new investments in sidewalks, crosswalks, major road improvements, separated bicycle tracks, and public transportation. This November, Greg’s supporting a mobility bond on the ballot to get us moving in the right direction. You can read more about it here: http://getaustinmoving.com/[26][27]

”

2014

Casar's 2014 campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

Focus on education first: The research is clear: investing in Pre-K, summer school, and afterschool programs enriches our kids and saves money in the long run. It’s time for our City to focus on our kids first.

Create public spaces we’re proud of: Vacant and underutilized tracts of land, like behind the old Home Depot at I-35 and St. John, should be North Austin’s next swimming pools, playgrounds, and plazas.

Rebuild the Middle Class: The ladder of opportunity is what made our city great in the first place. Let’s work together to create living wage jobs, support our local workforce, and grow our small businesses. I’m committed to making sure that Austinites can afford to live in Austin.

Make our streets safe: We can and we must fight the root causes of crime as a community. I’m for effective criminal diversion programs, funding mental health care, and creating a City of Austin ID card for those who don’t have access to driver licenses.

Ensure family-friendly housing: As your representative at City Hall, I’ll work with landlords to get problem properties in District 4 under control. We can improve our aging housing and infrastructure by training our local unemployed to do the job, while keeping down utility bills and the rent.

Make City Hall for all: Even if it takes setting up in someone’s living room, I’ll office in our district instead of staying cooped up at City Hall. I’ll also work to be sure that City Council meetings are translated into the languages our neighbors speak.[28][27]

”

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia LogoNote: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
When Casar first won election in 2014, he was the youngest councilmember in the city's history.[1]

See also

External links

  • Search Google News for this topic

    • Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 City of Austin, "Council Member Gregorio Casar - Biography," accessed September 29, 2016
    2. ↑ Casar for Congress, "Press kit," accessed December 8, 2021
    3. ↑ City of Austin, "Council Member Casar - Committees," accessed December 8, 2021
    4. ↑ Gregorio Casar, Progressive Democrat - City Council District 4, "Awards & Recognition," accessed September 29, 2016
    5. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024," accessed February 23, 2024
    6. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.185 - To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes." accessed February 23, 2024
    7. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2811 - Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023," accessed February 23, 2024
    8. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Con.Res.9 - Denouncing the horrors of socialism." accessed February 23, 2024
    9. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - Lower Energy Costs Act," accessed February 23, 2024
    10. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.30 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to 'Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights'." accessed February 23, 2024
    11. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.7 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020." accessed February 23, 2024
    12. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3746 - Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023," accessed February 23, 2024
    13. ↑ Congress.gov, "Roll Call 20," accessed February 23, 2024
    14. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.757 - Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.," accessed February 23, 2024
    15. ↑ Congress.gov, "Roll Call 527," accessed February 23, 2024
    16. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.757 - Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant." accessed February 23, 2024
    17. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.878 - Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives." accessed February 23, 2024
    18. ↑ Greg Casar for Congress, "Home," accessed December 9, 2021
    19. ↑ City of Austin, "City of Austin Election Calendar," accessed February 25, 2016
    20. ↑ City of Austin, "Ballot Applications - November 2016 Election," accessed August 23, 2016
    21. ↑ Gregorio Casar, Progressive Democrat - City Council District 4," accessed September 29, 2016
    22. ↑ City of Austin, "2014 Election Calendar," accessed May 14, 2014
    23. ↑ Travis County Clerk, "2014 Unofficial Election Results," accessed November 4, 2014
    24. ↑ City of Austin, "2014 Candidate List," accessed September 4, 2014
    25. ↑ Travis County Clerk, "2014 Runoff Election Results," accessed December 16, 2014
    26. ↑ Gregorio Casar, Progressive Democrat - City Council District 4, "Where We're Going," accessed September 29, 2016
    27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    28. ↑ Gregorio Casar, Progressive Democrat - City Council District 4 "Together We Can," accessed September 29, 2016

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