Cuellar Defeats Primary Challengers in Texas Border District

Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar Secures Primary Victory, Sets Up Showdown with Trump-Backed Challenger

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, decisively defeated challenger Ricardo Villarreal in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Texas’ 28th Congressional District, winning by more than 21 percentage points. The victory ensures Cuellar’s position as the Democratic nominee for the southern border district he has represented since 2005.

With 97% of ballots counted, Cuellar secured 58.1% of the vote compared to Villarreal’s 36.9%, according to The Associated Press. A third candidate, Andrew Vantine, received 5% of the vote.

The primary win sets up a November general election contest against Republican nominee Tano Tijerina, a longtime South Texas judge who received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Tijerina won his primary handily with 74.3% of the vote over challenger Eileen Day’s 25.7%.

Cuellar’s victory came despite significant challenges, including renewed scrutiny over his federal indictment last year on bribery charges, which he has consistently denied. Cuellar and his supporters have characterized the case as politically motivated, a position that gained unexpected support when Trump granted him an unconditional pardon. Despite the pardon from the former Republican president, Cuellar dismissed speculation that he might switch parties, affirming his commitment to remain a Democrat.

The congressman has positioned himself as one of the last “blue dog” conservative Democrats in the House and has been openly critical of the Biden administration’s border and immigration policies. His stance on border security has resonated with many constituents in his district, which stretches from San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley and includes major border crossings.

Cuellar’s political career spans decades in Texas politics. He served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1987 to 2001 and briefly as Texas Secretary of State in 2001 – making him the most recent Democrat to hold statewide office in Texas. He won his congressional seat in 2004 after defeating incumbent Ciro Rodriguez in a primary and has successfully fended off challenges in subsequent elections, though recent primaries have been more competitive.

His Republican opponent, Tijerina, represents the growing Republican strength in South Texas. Tijerina, who switched to the Republican Party in December 2024, citing that the Democratic Party no longer aligned with his values, has promised to bring “a new generation” of political leadership to the region.

After his primary victory, Tijerina responded to congratulatory messages on social media from Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, writing “Amen! Let’s work” and “It’s our win!”

In campaign statements, Tijerina has argued that the Biden administration’s handling of the southern border crisis and focus on progressive social initiatives have shifted voters’ perspectives in what has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold.

“Being a Democrat after so many years, I’m just sick and tired of seeing all the social issues that the Democrats are [promoting]. And I’m not the only one,” Tijerina told Fox News Digital. “That’s why Webb County, that’s why South Texas, voted for Trump plus 10 numbers.”

He added: “We have always been conservative, everybody knows it. Down here in South Texas, the only thing that we care about is good-paying jobs [and] making sure that we’re getting protected.”

The November contest will be closely watched nationally as Republicans currently hold a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives. The race exemplifies the ongoing battle for Hispanic voters in South Texas, where Republicans have made significant inroads in recent elections.

Border security is expected to remain a central issue in the campaign, as the district encompasses a significant portion of the U.S.-Mexico border and has been heavily impacted by immigration challenges. Both candidates have criticized the Biden administration’s border policies, though they differ significantly on other policy positions.

Political analysts suggest this race could be a bellwether for Democrats’ ability to maintain support in Hispanic communities along the southern border, where Republicans have gained substantial ground in recent election cycles.