Photo: Austin Texas.Gov
YONKERS, NY – Today, New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman endorsed three-time Austin Councilmember and progressive Democrat Greg Casar in his run for Texas’s District 35. Casar, who is running on a platform focused on fair wages, protecting working families, Medicare for All, and reproductive rights, is one of five candidates who has filed to run for TX-35 but according to a poll by Lake Research Partners, is the only candidate in a strong position to win the Democratic nomination.
The poll shows Casar leading his opponent, Texas House Representative Eddie Rodriguez, by a margin of 25 points, with Casar coming in at 42% and Rodriguez at 17%.
“I am proud to endorse progressive Democrat and Texas native, Greg Casar,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman. “Last year, the state of Texas experienced first hand the effects of climate change when Winter Storm Uri landed in Texas. The storm killed dozens of Texans and left millions without power for days, yet when their communities needed them the most, Texas Republican leaders fled the scene. Casar was one of the few who rolled up his sleeves and stayed with his community, fighting for the resources and aid that the people of Texas deserved and calling out his Republican leaders. Greg Casar showed us his leadership abilities then and I am confident will continue to demonstrate them in Congress.”
Greg Casar began as a labor organizer and in 2014 made headlines after being elected Austin’s youngest-ever city council member. Casar has fought to raise the wages of Austin’s lowest-income employees, worked with tenants to block evictions and boost affordable housing, and partnered with organizations like Planned Parenthood to stop the attacks on reproductive rights in Texas. Casar is not accepting any corporate PAC money or contributions from major donors.
“We’re building a grassroots movement from San Antonio to Austin, made up of people who are ready to fight for real progressive change,” said Greg Casar. “I’m honored to have the endorsement of Congressman Jamaal Bowman, because together we can deliver on Medicare for All, reproductive rights, good jobs, and a functional electric grid for Texas working families.”
Congressman Jamaal Bowman is the first congressional representative to endorse Greg Casar this election cycle. This also marks the first endorsement of any Democratic candidate for the TX-35 primary.
A native Texan, son of Mexican immigrants, and community organizer, Greg Casar is running for Congress in TX-35 to fight for reproductive rights, Medicare for All, good jobs, and a functional power grid. He currently serves on the Austin City Council representing District 4. Learn more at casarforcongress.com.
Congressman Jamaal Bowman was an educator and advocate for public schools for over 20 years and previously served as principal for the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action (CASA), a public middle school he founded in 2009 in the Baychester neighborhood of The Bronx. Rep. Bowman is a life-long New Yorker who lives in Yonkers with his wife and children.
