Cuellar Reclaims 28th District Seat After Close Vote

Henry Cuellar won the election for Texas’ 28th Congressional District on Tuesday night. He defeated Republican challenger Tano Tijerina in a closely contested race. Green Party candidate Marlon Duran also ran in the general election. The district includes Laredo and extends north toward San Antonio. Democrats have held the seat since 2005, and Cuellar has served as the representative since 2004.

The campaign focused heavily on the border and party control. Cuellar faced scrutiny due to a recent legal history. In 2025, President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Cuellar and his wife, Imelda. The couple had faced federal charges for bribery and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged they accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico. The indictment claimed Cuellar agreed to advance the interests of these entities while serving in Congress.

The Cuellars maintained their innocence throughout the legal process. Cuellar stated that the pardon provided his family with a clean slate. He said the decision allowed him to continue working for South Texas. President Trump described the charges as politically motivated. He accused the Biden administration of targeting Cuellar because the congressman criticized Biden’s border policies.

The result secures Cuellar’s position in the chamber for another term. The victory ends a period of uncertainty for the district. The race drew national attention because of the high-profile pardon and the competing narratives regarding border security. Tijerina challenged Cuellar’s fitness for office given the prior charges. Cuellar’s team argued the pardon resolved the matter. The final count confirmed Cuellar’s lead over his opponents.