Karnes County voters will be getting a new congressman come January. Congressman Lloyd Doggett won’t be voted out, but instead will be replaced by Ruben Hinojosa due to a district alignment shift ordered by three Texas appeals court judges.

The remedy to Texas’ congressional district map is an attempt to rectify congressional district 23 map, which judges declared unconstitutional earlier this summer. The changes to district 23 will affect districts 15, 24, 25 (which includes Karnes County), and 28.

In November, Karnes County voters will cast ballots in the race for representative of the newly defined Congressional District 15, an office currently held by Hinojosa. Before the changes in the district, Hinojosa was to face Republican opponent Paul B. Haring of Goliad in the November election. With the recent court ruling, candidates have until August 25 to file for election in the redefined District 15.

In terms of social issues like healthcare and social security, Hinojosa votes along with his party, similar to how Doggett voted. In other areas, though, he doesn’t necessarily toe the party line.

"We do break with the Democrats on certain issues," said Hinojosa’s press secretary Ciaran Clayton. "For instance, we did vote for the energy bill that came through the house that would open up ANWR. Then we voted for the repeal of the estate taxes. Basically those tax breaks that help out family farms we’ll support."

In contrast, Doggett voted against both the energy bill and the repeal of the estate tax.

The new district Karnes County will join will be made up of Bee, Brooks, De Witt, Duval, Goliad, Jim Wells, Karnes, Live Oak, and Refugio counties and parts of San Patricio, Cameron, and Hidalgo counties.

Hinojosa was elected to Congress in 1996 and is currently serving his fifth term as the representative of the 15th District of Texas. He describes himself as an advocate for the underserved and economically and educationally disadvantaged.

He sits on the education and workforce committee and the financial services committee.