Morris Katz, a leading Democratic campaign strategist known for his work with Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral campaign, has launched a re-election campaign for Rep. Greg Casar, the Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair. Casar, a Texas Democrat, is running for his third term, leveraging Katz’s ad-making expertise and progressive messaging.
Katz is no stranger to Democratic campaigns, having helped ‘fortify and expand’ New York’s Working Families Party and recently created ads for a Democrat in Maine challenging Sen. Susan Collins, D-Maine. He also advised Dan Osborn’s independent Senate campaign in Nebraska.
The Fight Agency, where Katz works, has rolled out videos for Sens. John Fetterman and Bernie Sanders, among others. His work for Mamdani propelled his name to the national stage, with Katz expressing deep admiration for the 33-year-old democratic socialist after their first meeting.
Casar’s new ad highlights his background as a labor organizer and state lawmaker before joining Congress in 2023. In the ad, he criticizes Donald Trump and Greg Abbot, stating, ‘I didn’t start my career in the courtroom or the C-Suite. I started it here, on Austin construction sites, as a labor organizer fighting alongside workers to win a raise, a union, and the right to a water break.’
The timing of Casar’s announcement is significant, as it coincides with the Texas state legislature passing new congressional maps, backed by the White House, which could give Republicans as many as five new seats in the House of Representatives. This has triggered a redistricting war across the country and pitted Democratic lawmakers against each other.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, a longtime House lawmaker, announced that he would not run for re-election if the new district lines went into effect. He stated, ‘I had hoped that my commitment to reelection under any circumstances would encourage Congressman Casar to not surrender his winnable district to Trump.’ Casar responded, ‘Lloyd Doggett is an Austin institution. I’ve learned so much from him. The fight for democracy continues.’
Casar’s decision to switch districts underscores the ongoing political turmoil over redistricting, with progressive lawmakers vying to maintain their influence in the face of potential Republican gains.