SAN ANTONIO – The boundaries of a new South Texas Congressional district haven’t even been approved by the courts, and the district won’t officially have a voice in Washington D.C. until next year.
But there are already two politicians taking action in District 35, which would stretch between San Antonio and Austin.
Lloyd Doggett’s represented parts of South Texas in Washington, D.C., since 1995. If he’s re-elected in November, it would be his first time representing the Alamo City.
"I've really devoted a little bit of almost every week over the course of the last year to being here in San Antonio,” Rep. Doggett says.
The Democratic candidate says he’s trying to bring new jobs to the area.
"I think the internship program that the Alamo Academies already have underway at Port San Antonio is valuable,” Rep. Doggett says. “I'm working to see that gets expanded so we can have an aerospace academy here to provide more good-paying jobs."
He wants voters to know someone’s already hard at work in District 35.
So does his Republican opponent, Susan Narvaiz.
"We need to get back into letting the private sector create jobs,” she says. “As a small business owner who has created jobs, I can speak directly to some of the hindrances that government places on us."
Narvaiz is the former mayor of San Marcos.
"I've served at the local level,” she says. “I believe when you do that, you have the best idea of what it really means to be a representative of the people."
But we’re still five months away from the general election – five months before anyone knows who will represent District 35.
With so much uncertainty over redistricting, both candidates say they want voters to know someone’s in their corner.
"Not waiting for November but acting now,” Representative Doggett says.
"Even in this off, weird redistricting year,” Narvaiz says.
