Cuellar Wins 12th Term in Texas House District
Cuellar won reelection in a closely watched contest against Tijerina, a Webb County judge recruited by Republicans. When the race was called, Cuellar had about 66% of the vote; Tijerina had roughly 29% to 30%, with one count showing about 80% of ballots tallied.
The district, which includes Laredo and stretches along the Texas-Mexico border, was redrawn in 2025 to slightly favor Republicans. President Donald Trump carried it by more than 10 percentage points in 2024, and Republicans viewed it as a possible pickup. Cuellar’s local support and familiarity with the area helped him withstand the challenge.
The campaign came after Trump pardoned Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, in December. The couple had been indicted in 2024 on charges including bribery and money laundering. Prosecutors alleged they received illicit payments totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, linked to a Mexican financial institution and an Azerbaijani firm in the oil and gas sector. The case was pending when Trump issued the pardon.
Cuellar, a Democrat whose immigration and border-policy positions have put him at odds with fellow party members, announced he would seek another term after the pardon. Trump then criticized him for staying in the Democratic Party rather than switching parties. Cuellar’s win follows a close primary challenge in 2022 and secures his 12th term in Congress.
Cuellar’s Win Thwarts GOP Push to Flip Redrawn Texas Seat
Henry Cuellar’s reelection stopped Republicans from turning a redrawn Texas district into a House pickup. The Democrat won about 66% of the vote against Republican Tano Tijerina, despite a map designed to slightly favor Republicans and a district President Donald Trump carried by more than 10 percentage points in 2024.
Republicans recruited Tijerina, a Webb County judge, and House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise campaigned with him. But Cuellar’s deep familiarity in a district anchored by Laredo proved decisive. Republican-aligned outside groups stopped spending on the race in its final weeks, and the Congressional Leadership Fund withdrew $3 million in planned advertising.
The result also underscores the complicated politics of Cuellar, a Democrat whose departures from party positions on immigration and border rules have drawn criticism from some Democrats. He nonetheless held the seat after facing a progressive primary challenger in 2022 and a major Republican effort this year.
Trump pardoned Cuellar and his wife in December while they faced a pending federal case. Prosecutors had alleged the couple took illicit payments worth several hundred thousand dollars, supplied by a Mexican banking institution and an Azerbaijani energy firm. Trump defended the pardon as a response to what he called political targeting, but later attacked Cuellar for remaining a Democrat. The election delivered Cuellar another term despite the GOP’s effort to capitalize on the district’s new boundaries.
Border-District Democrat Cuellar Wins Again After Trump Pardon
Henry Cuellar won a 12th House term with about 66% of the vote, overcoming a Republican challenge in a district President Donald Trump carried by more than 10 points in 2024. The result leaves Republicans without a seat they had targeted after redrawing part of the district to slightly favor their party.
Cuellar is an unusual Democrat in a party that has criticized his approach to immigration and border policy. His support in the Laredo-area district held firm against Tano Tijerina, a Webb County judge Republicans recruited for what became Cuellar’s toughest reelection fight. Republican leaders campaigned alongside Tijerina, but outside groups pulled back their spending as the race tilted toward Cuellar.
The contest followed Trump’s pardon of Cuellar and his wife, who had been indicted in 2024. Prosecutors alleged the couple took illicit payments worth several hundred thousand dollars, supplied by a Mexican bank and an Azerbaijani company in the oil and gas business. Trump said the couple had been targeted by the Biden administration over Cuellar’s criticism of its border policies.
Cuellar then announced he would run again as a Democrat, angering Trump, who had expected him to change parties. Republicans’ bid to flip the seat failed, while Cuellar’s victory showed that his standing at home remained strong even after the indictment, pardon and public break with Trump.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, FOX 26 Houston, The Washington Examiner, New York Post.
