Henry Cuellar
TX-28, House
Henry Cuellar is the Democratic incumbent representing Texas's 28th Congressional District, which spans from Laredo through Rio Grande City to the suburbs of San Antonio. First elected in 2004, he is seeking his 12th term after winning his 2026 primary and will face Republican Tano Tijerina in a newly redrawn district that eliminates roughly half of his current constituents and gives Republicans a significant edge, making it one of the most closely watched races in the country.
Cuellar was born in Laredo in 1955 and holds an associate degree from Laredo Community College, a bachelor's degree in foreign service from Georgetown University, a J.D. from the University of Texas, a master's in international trade from Texas A&M International University, and a Ph.D. in government from the University of Texas. He served 14 years in the Texas House of Representatives before being elected Texas Secretary of State in 2001 -- making him, as of 2025, the most recent Democrat to hold a statewide office in Texas.
In 2024, Cuellar and his wife were indicted on federal bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy charges related to allegations involving a Mexican bank and an Azerbaijani state-controlled oil company; his trial was subsequently delayed to 2026. In December 2025, before any trial or conviction, President Trump pardoned Cuellar, and Cuellar promptly filed for re-election as a Democrat. In Congress, he serves as a senior member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, chairs the Congressional Pro-Trade Caucus, and is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, New Democrat Coalition, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus, with a long record of working across party lines on border security and trade.
On the Issues
Henry Cuellar has focused his work in Congress on:
- Modernizing land ports of entry and border security technology rather than building a border wall
- Coordinating federal, state, and local law enforcement against drug and human trafficking
- Supporting South Texas agriculture and ranching
- Advancing U.S.-Mexico trade, including his long-running push for San Antonio-to-Monterrey passenger rail
- Expanding healthcare access for South Texas families
- Supporting veterans' benefits and services
- Investing in transportation and infrastructure
- Increasing education funding
- Backing continued U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel
Cuellar has centered his long tenure on a pragmatic, bipartisan approach to border security and trade issues central to his South Texas district.
