Texas Democratic Representative Greg Casar, recently chosen as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has a track record of championing far-left initiatives, including defunding police departments during his time on the Austin City Council. Casar’s leadership raises questions about the direction of the Democratic Party as it evaluates its future strategy.

In 2020, Casar spearheaded legislation in Austin that cut over $100 million from local police funding, a move he celebrated on social media, writing, “We did it!!” The funding cuts also eliminated three planned police cadet classes. The initiative, which passed unanimously, followed a series of police shootings involving people of color, Fox News reports.

Casar’s elevation to leadership in the House Progressive Caucus comes as some Democrats advocate for a centrist shift to reconnect with working-class voters. However, Casar’s record indicates a firm commitment to progressive policies.

A History of Controversial Policies

During his tenure on the Austin City Council, Casar also:

• Rejected a contract between the city and the Austin Police Association in 2017, leading to a wave of retirements and hiring struggles.
• Redirected police funds to initiatives such as abortion access, affordable housing, and food security.
• Authored “Freedom City” resolutions that reduced discretionary arrests for certain nonviolent crimes and required police to inform individuals of their right to deny requests for immigration papers.
• Supported bans on non-lethal police munitions and specific chokehold techniques.

In 2020, Austin began directing some 911 calls to mental health professionals. By 2022, staffing shortages forced police to advise residents to use 311 instead of 911 for reporting certain crimes, including ATM robberies.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is ready to fight back against the billionaires, special interests, and Republican frauds. pic.twitter.com/6HXgfCjsrB

— Congressman Greg Casar (@RepCasar) December 6, 2024

Dennis Farris, president of the Austin Police Retired Officers Association, criticized Casar’s policies, stating, “‘Far-left radical’ is a really good way to describe what he did in Austin.”

As a congressman, Casar has continued his focus on police reform, urging the Department of Justice to investigate Austin’s police department for “excessive and lethal use of force, racial discrimination, and discrimination against people with mental health conditions.”

Critics, including some Democrats, argue that Casar’s progressive agenda has hurt the party electorally. Farris noted that Casar’s association with the “defund the police” movement was used against Democrats in 2020 Texas House races, contributing to their losses.

The debate over the Democratic Party’s future direction persists. Following recent elections, figures like Senator Bernie Sanders have warned of losing working-class support. Similarly, Representative Ritchie Torres of New York stated, “There is more to lose than there is to gain politically from pandering to a far left that is more representative of Twitter, Twitch, and TikTok than it is of the real world.”