Incumbent
TX-28 Democratic nominee?
$19.0K
MAR 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyConservative Democrat
Age70 years old (Sep 19, 1955)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationTexas
BackgroundPolitician
EducationA.A., Laredo Community College (Summa Cum Laude)
Notable personal detailsHenry Cuellar is a Democratic member of the U.S. House representing Texas’s 28th Congressional District, first elected in 2004 and serving since January 3, 2005. He previously served in the Texas House of Representatives (1987–2001) and as Texas Secretary of State in 2001. Cuellar is an attorney and has also worked as a customs broker and educator. He holds degrees from Laredo Community College, Georgetown University, Texas A&M International University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the U.S. Naval War College.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for middle-class families and small businesses (including expansions of the Child Tax Credit and small-business provisions) while opposing large, permanent tax cuts for the wealthy and deficit-increasing budget measures; emphasizes protecting safety-net programs and fiscal responsibility.
Healthcare
Supports strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act, has acted to extend ACA premium tax credits, opposed Republican repeal efforts, and has supported measures to lower prescription drug costs.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Henry Cuellar supports strengthened border enforcement and operational tools for border agencies while opposing large physical barriers like the Rio Grande wall; he has voted for enforcement-focused measures (e.g., funding DHS/ICE and Kate’s Law) and sponsored/advocated targeted border security steps such as drone restrictions and river buoys. His approach mixes enforcement and oversight/technology solutions rather than broad regularization or expanded asylum protections.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supports development of both clean energy and traditional oil and gas, emphasizing energy jobs and reliability while backing investments in clean energy technologies and carbon capture; policy statements emphasize balancing renewables with continued use of natural gas rather than phasing out fossil fuels. Positions combine support for clean-energy investment and infrastructure with protection of the oil and gas industry in his district.
Public Safety & Guns
The representative has supported expanded background checks, red flag (extreme-risk) laws, and raising the purchase age in some votes and statements while opposing a federal assault-weapons ban and emphasizing Second Amendment rights and support for law enforcement. He has also sponsored/been associated with legislation expanding certain concealed-carry rights for off-duty and retired law enforcement officers.
News
Rep. Henry Cuellar won the Democratic primary in Texas’s 28th Congressional District, beating Ricardo Villarreal with 58.1% of the vote. He will face Republican nominee Tano Tijerina in the November election. Cuellar’s win comes amid ongoing scrutiny tied to a federal indictment and talk about whether he might switch parties.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements