Biography

Gregorio Eduardo Casar, born on May 4, 1989, in Houston, Texas, is the U.S. Representative for Texas's 35th Congressional District, serving since January 2023. The district spans from East Austin to Hays County and the West Side of San Antonio. A member of the Democratic Party, Casar is the son of Mexican immigrants and has a background as a labor organizer. He currently serves as the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, advocating for progressive policies such as raising wages, expanding immigrant rights, restoring abortion and voting rights, protecting veterans and seniors, and addressing the climate crisis.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Casar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Social Thought from the University of Virginia in 2011.

• Political Experience:

  • Austin City Council: Elected in 2014 as the youngest council member, Casar represented District 4 until 2022. During his tenure, he championed policies including protections for renters, affordable housing initiatives, and paid sick leave ordinances in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio.
  • U.S. House of Representatives: Elected in 2022 to represent Texas's 35th Congressional District. As Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, he has introduced legislation such as the Connect the Grid Act to improve Texas's electric grid reliability and has advocated for a federal heat rule to protect workers from extreme heat conditions.

Notable Achievements

• Labor Rights: Authored and passed paid sick leave ordinances in multiple Texas cities, marking significant progress in labor rights within a traditionally "right-to-work" state.

• Affordable Housing: Led efforts to pass a $250 million affordable housing bond in Austin, the largest in the city's history, to address housing affordability and homelessness.

• Environmental Advocacy: Supported initiatives to increase renewable energy usage in Austin, including pushing Austin Energy to derive 56% of its power from renewable sources by 2019.

• Gun Violence Prevention: As an Austin City Council member, supported the creation of a Gun Violence Task Force and expanded gun violence prevention programs. In Congress, co-sponsored legislation such as the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Assault Weapons Ban.

• Immigrant Rights: Established an immigrant legal defense fund in Austin and coordinated a statewide lawsuit against Texas's "Show Me Your Papers" law , demonstrating a commitment to protecting immigrant communities.

Casar's career reflects a dedication to progressive policies aimed at improving the lives of working families, advocating for social justice, and addressing systemic inequalities.