While Congress was on recess this August, Rep. Henry Cuellar, D‑Laredo, hit the road for more than 60 community events across Texas’ 28th Congressional District. From school graduations to water‑line ribbon cuttings, the “King of Laredo” used his senior seat on the House Appropriations Committee to announce new federal dollars for Title I schools, health clinics and critical infrastructure projects.
Retail politics that delivers
“I don’t wait til election year,” Cuellar told reporters. “I’m out there month after month… I run as a mayor, looking at the issues that affect people locally.” His hands‑on approach is a hallmark of his 22‑year tenure and a direct response to voters who value tangible results over partisan rhetoric.
Tijerina’s infrastructure criticism
Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, a former Democrat who switched to the GOP after the 2024 election, countered that Cuellar’s record does not match his reputation. “In Webb County we’re $1.5 billion behind on infrastructure,” Tijerina said. “If he is the kind of man that brings in the money, why doesn’t he bring in the $1.5 billion of infrastructure?”
Polling shows a growing crossover
A recent Texas Southern University poll found Cuellar winning 45 % to Tijerina’s 34 %, with nearly a quarter of likely midterm voters who backed President Trump in 2024 now leaning toward the incumbent. The poll highlights a trend of increasing Trump‑voter support for Cuellar, a pattern that mirrors his past success in out‑performing Democratic statewide candidates in the district.
Redistricting and the Trump advantage
Republicans redrew the 28th District last year to be slightly more favorable to President Trump, who carried the new map by a 10‑point margin in 2024. Cuellar argues the redistricting inadvertently helped him, noting that ticket‑splitting in South Texas increased the share of voters willing to support a Democrat who backs the president’s border and energy policies.
Tariff policy at the center
The Port of Laredo handles 40 % of U.S.–Mexico trade, making tariff policy a local concern. When asked about President Trump’s tariff strategy, Tijerina praised the president, saying the administration is “doing an incredible job” to rebalance the trade deficit. Cuellar, however, warned that recent tariff increases have hurt local businesses and have become a political liability for GOP voters in the district.
Looking ahead
Both candidates say the race will be decided on local issues rather than national party labels. Cuellar emphasized his confidence, noting, “We’ve had that historically, and we’ll get that again.” Tijerina, meanwhile, promised to bring a fresh perspective and to address the $1.5 billion infrastructure gap that he says has been ignored.
The contest will serve as a bellwether for how far crossover appeal can carry a candidate in a district that is 87 % Hispanic and increasingly competitive between the two major parties.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
