In a significant shift for Texas politics, the progressive group LUPE Votes has issued its first-ever endorsement for U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar. The decision, announced during an anniversary event in Pharr, comes as the Democratic incumbent defends his seat in Texas's 28th District against Tano Tijerina.
Preventing a Republican sweep of the Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley is currently a high-stakes battleground where the loss of three congressional seats could fundamentally alter the region's political landscape. According to the report, LUPE Votes decided to back Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez to prevent a total Republican takeover of the 15th, 28th, and 34th districts. This strategic move reflects a defensive posture in the face of recent redistricting that favored Republican interests, particularly as the 28th District spans from southern Maverick County to southwest Hidalgo County and includes Atascosa, Live Oak, La Salle, and Dimmit counties, following the 2024 election where most border counties voted for Donald Trump.
Demands to end ICE funding and border militarization
The endorsement of Henry Cuellar is not a blanket approval, as LUPE Votes has attached strict ideological requirements to their support. The progressive group is demanding that the Laredo-based Representative cease funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and halt the militarization of the border through surveillance technology. While Cuellar has famously called a border wall a "14th Century solution to a 21st Century problem" and supports high-resolution cameras, the group remains skeptical of his alignment with Department of Homeland Security policies and his refusal to divest from ICE.
A 'love-hate' relationship with Henry Cuellar
Local activists and residents remain deeply divided over whether Cuellar's seniority outweighs his conservative voting record on reproductive rights and immigration. For instance,Gloria Galindo of Friends of the Wildlife Corridor in Alamo noted that while Cuellar has protected certain sensitive areas from wall construction, he remains a supporter of the Department of Homeland Security.. This tension was echoed by Edinburg resident Christopher Torres, who expressed disappointment on social media, viewing the endorsement as a "stab in the back" to immigrant families.
The 11-point lead and the seniority debate
Despite an 11-point lead over Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina in a Texas Southern University poll of 600 likely midterm voters, questions remain about the tangible benefits of Cuellar's decade-long tenure on the House Appropriations Committee. As the report notes, LUPE Votes deputy director Dani Marrero Hi questioned whether Cuellar’s high rank has actually resulted in meaningful political risks being taken on behalf of the working class. There is a growing concern that seniority does not always equate to advocacy, especially as the district faces a rare mid-decade redistricting designed to favor Republicans.
Navigating a history of FBI raids and legal charges
The political viability of Henry Cuellar has also been shaped by significant legal and investigative hurdles in recent years. in 2022, his offices were raided by the FBI, an event that progressives viewed as a moment to replace him with a more ideological candidate. Furthermore, while Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, faced indictments for bribery and money laundering in May 2024, those charges were eventually dropped following a pardon by President Donald Trump.
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