Lloyd Doggett - U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. House of Representatives

Described as an “endangered species”, Doggett is one of the two white Democratic House members (the other being Gene Green) in a state with mostly Republicans and minority members of the Democratic Party. He is one of the most liberal white Democrats from a Southern district, and one of the most liberal congressmen ever to represent Texas in Congress and has been described as a strong voice for his party on taxes and environmental policies.

Doggett has been highly partisan at times. He was a frequent critic of Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker, while allying with David Bonior, the Minority Whip, when Bonior was leading “an effort to diminish Gingrich's power by raising continual questions about his ethics.” He has been a close ally of Nancy Pelosi. In 2002, Doggett supported Pelosi's bid to become the party’s House leader over fellow Texan Martin Frost, a more moderate candidate.