U.S. House · Texas's 37th District

A district covering most of Austin and Travis County.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 20 claims re-checked against their sources · 1 corrected · 0 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Corrected committee name from 'House Committee on Education and Workforce' to the official 'House Committee on Education and the Workforce' in Greg Casar's record.
  • Verified Casar's bio, Progressive Caucus chair/whip history, and issue-page quotes (child care, Green New Deal, taxing the wealthy) and Lauren Peña's bio, trafficking-survivor background, and welfare-reform/public-safety quotes against their sources, plus the two-candidate D/R general-election slate.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEGreg Casar
D
Lauren Peña
R
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes[5][6][7][8][9]votes—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[6][7][8]votes—
Expand public health coverageSupports[6][7][8][10]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[6][7][8]votes—
Increase police funding and staffing—Supports[4]
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[11]votes—
Universal, publicly funded child careSupports[3]—

The candidates, in full

Greg Casar

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2023); Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus

Greg Casar is the incumbent U.S. Representative for the Austin-based 37th District. A former Austin City Council member, he chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus and serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • NoNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • Didn't voteEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • NoCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • NoGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • NoLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • NoSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in the 2025-2026 (119th) Congress.[2]
  • actionChairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, after serving a term as its whip.[3]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care

    Supports achieving universal, affordable child care.[3]

    “win truly universal and affordable child care for everyone”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[6][7][8]

    What they say: Co-sponsors the Green New Deal and related legislation to expand clean energy and address pollution.[3]

    “I’m a proud co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and similar legislation to create good union jobs in clean energy and protect communities harmed by pollution and natural disasters.”
  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[6][7][8]

    What they say: Says Congress must ensure wealthy individuals pay a larger share in taxes to fund schools, roads, and community services.[3]

    “Congress must ensure that the ultra rich pay their fair share in taxes and contribute to the schools, roads, and community services that we all use.”
  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted no on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[5][6][7][8][9]

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[6][7][8][10]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[11]

In their words — priorities

  • Chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus after previously serving as its whip.[3]
  • Supports universal, affordable child care.[3]
  • Is a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and similar clean-energy legislation.[3]

Background

  • Born in Houston, Texas, in 1989; earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Virginia.[2]
  • Worked as policy director of the Workers Defense Project before his 2014 election to the Austin City Council.[2]
  • Served on the Austin City Council, chairing its Planning and Neighborhoods Committee and serving as vice chair of the Public Safety Committee, before his 2022 election to Congress.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $1.2M · spent $947K · $597K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Lauren Peña

RLegal advocate; founder, Peña Legal Advocacy

Won the Republican primary runoff against Ge'Nell Gary

Lauren Peña is an Austin-based legal advocate, founder of Peña Legal Advocacy, and self-described survivor of human trafficking who has testified before the Texas Legislature on welfare and housing policy.[4]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsIncrease police funding and staffing

    Opposes reducing police funding and says she supports law enforcement while working to build community trust.[4]

    “Public Safety: Democrats defunded the police instead of educating the community.”

In their words — priorities

  • Says welfare reform is her top priority, arguing the current system traps families in generational poverty.[4]
  • Says she supports law enforcement and favors building community trust through education and engagement rather than reduced police funding.[4]

Background

  • Earned a bachelor's degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2024, after attending the University of Texas and Austin Community College.[4]
  • Founded and directs Peña Legal Advocacy, providing no-cost legal support across Texas.[4]
  • Has been affiliated with the Austin Public Safety Commission, the Austin Community Police Review Commission, and the Travis County Republican Party.[4]

Campaign money

Raised $118K · spent $117K · $770 cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Research notes & limits

Peña's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (completed in 2025) still refers to the seat by its former '35th Congressional District' number in places; that appears to reflect a pre-redistricting survey answer and was cross-checked against the current district-37 race listing on the Texas 2026 House elections overview.

Sources · 11

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Greg Casar · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Issues · Office of Rep. Greg Casar Official record
  4. 4.Lauren Peña · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  7. 7.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record