Texas — 28th District

D Democratic Henry Cuellar

Supports smart border enforcement and legal pathways

Cuellar advocates for smart border enforcement, securing the border, and deporting violent noncitizen criminals. He opposes spending billions of dollars to detain children or separate families who have established lives in the region.

• Focuses policy on smart enforcement and efficient legal immigration pathways.
• Supports deporting violent criminals while opposing family separations and detaining children.
• Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voting.
• Serves as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

“Securing the border and deporting violent criminals is common sense. Spending billions to lock up children and tear apart families who have built their lives here is not.”

“I see the reality of the border everyday. It’s my home. That’s why I’m focused on real solutions.”

R Republican Tano Tijerina

Supports border security and targeted law enforcement

Tijerina emphasizes stopping illegal border crossings, enforcing existing laws, and supporting law enforcement. He favors targeting noncitizens with criminal records while remaining open to bipartisan pathways to citizenship for childhood arrivals (Dreamers) and guest worker programs.

• Pledges to stop illegal crossings, enforce federal laws, and restore order to the immigration system.
• Favors a targeted enforcement approach prioritizing individuals with criminal records.
• Expresses openness to bipartisan legislation providing citizenship pathways for childhood arrivals (Dreamers) and guest workers.
• Emphasizes practical experience living in a border community.

“South Texas lives the reality of the border every single day — this isn’t a talking point, it’s our home.”

“Tano Tijerina believes we must secure the border, enforce the law, and restore order to a broken system.”

D Democratic Henry Cuellar

Opposes price-raising tariffs and supports rebates

Cuellar frames tariffs as hidden taxes that elevate prices on everyday household essentials like groceries, energy, and fuel. He authored the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act to return funds to families and highlights past legislative efforts to lower tax burdens.

• Authored the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act to put money directly back into working families' pockets.
• Opposes broad tariffs that raise consumer prices on groceries, fuel, and energy.
• Co-sponsored the largest property tax cut in Texas history during his state legislative tenure.

“Tariffs are hidden taxes that raise prices on groceries, fuel, energy, and the household essentials South Texas families count on.”

R Republican Tano Tijerina

Supports tax cuts and fiscal restraint

Tijerina campaigns on his local track record as Webb County Judge, where he lowered property taxes five times and delivered utility relief. In Congress, he pledges to cut federal regulations, lower taxes for working families and small businesses, and halt wasteful spending.

• Cut Webb County property taxes five times in ten years and delivered $20 million in local utility relief.
• Pledges to lower taxes for working families and small businesses in Congress.
• Advocates cutting federal regulations and stopping wasteful government spending to curb inflation.

“As County Judge I've made Webb County more affordable by: [c]utting property taxes five times, [d]elivering $20 million in utility relief ... [and e]xpanding healthcare access ... I’m ready to deliver results to DISTRICT 28.”

“It’s simple, families should keep more of what they earn.”

D Democratic Henry Cuellar

Maintains innocence following presidential pardon

After being indicted by the Justice Department in May 2024 on bribery and money laundering charges involving foreign entities, Cuellar pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. He fully resumed his committee assignments after receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump in December 2025.

• Indicted in May 2024 on bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy charges; maintained full innocence.
• Pardoned by President Donald Trump on December 3, 2025, ending federal legal proceedings.
• Restored to his leadership position as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations.

“I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations. Everything I have done in Congress has been to serve the people of South Texas.”

R Republican Tano Tijerina

Demands ethical leadership and transparency

Tijerina makes public integrity and anti-corruption central theme of his campaign, directly targeting Cuellar's legal troubles. He promises to bring accountability to Washington and ensure elected officials operate under equal legal standards.

• Positions his campaign as a movement to restore integrity and accountability to South Texas representation.
• Argues that federal corruption charges against the incumbent damaged public trust in the district.
• Pledges that no politician or bureaucrat will be treated as above the law.

“For too long, South Texas has been held back by corruption and the same failed leadership.”

“Tano believes no one is above the law not politicians, not bureaucrats, not anyone.”

D Democratic Henry Cuellar

Leverages seniority for district infrastructure funding

Cuellar emphasizes his senior role on the House Appropriations Committee to bring federal tax dollars back to South Texas. He highlights investments in international bridges, regional airports, law enforcement funding, and local educational grants.

• Senior member of the House Appropriations Committee delivering targeted federal investment.
• Modernized international bridges and airports in Laredo, McAllen, and San Antonio to facilitate cross-border trade.
• Secured $61.9 million for Webb County law enforcement through Operation Stonegarden since 2008.

“As an appropriator, my top priority is simple: bringing our tax dollars back to South Texas.”

“In my hometown of Laredo, trade is our lifeline. And for trade to be successful, we need strong infrastructure.”

R Republican Tano Tijerina

Promises fiscal restraint over federal pork

Tijerina promises to represent the district with fiscal discipline rather than participating in D.C. political games. He highlights his experience managing county budgets while improving local infrastructure and senior services.

• Emphasizes balancing budgets and responsible management of taxpayer dollars as Webb County Judge.
• Expanded local senior meal programs and improved county infrastructure while reducing tax rates.
• Pledges to challenge D.C. bureaucracy and stop wasteful federal spending.

“Tano isn’t going to Washington to become part of the system — he’s going to fix it.”

“Tano believes leadership means representing everyone — not just one party.”

D Democratic Henry Cuellar

Supports independent oversight of foreign spending

Cuellar supports robust international trade while taking an independent stance against sending federal funds overseas without thorough debate. He serves on key defense and military construction appropriations subcommittees.

• Serves on House Appropriations subcommittees for Defense and Military Construction & VA.
• Criticizes overseas foreign aid allocations made without sufficient congressional debate.
• Promotes international cross-border trade as central to South Texas economic success.

“When reckless tariffs drive up prices or taxpayer dollars are sent overseas without debate, he says so.”

R Republican Tano Tijerina

Supports America First foreign policy

Tijerina advocates an America First foreign policy grounded in national security and peace through strength. He emphasizes standing firmly with international allies like Israel while confronting hostile foreign regimes.

• Pledges strong support for key international allies, explicitly including Israel.
• Advocates confronting hostile regimes that threaten U.S. national security.
• Focuses on securing critical national infrastructure, including domestic ports and borders.

“Tano believes in an America First foreign policy rooted in strength, security, and common sense.”

“Standing with our allies, including Israel”

R Republican Tano Tijerina

Supports tech innovation with natural resource protections

Tijerina advocates positioning South Texas as a center for technological innovation, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency, while demanding strict protections for local land, water, and power grids against corporate overreach.

• Supports clear, fair federal regulations for cryptocurrency to keep financial innovation in the United States.
• Aims to attract high-paying tech, AI, and logistics jobs to South Texas.
• Requires data centers and tech developments to prove they will not drain local water supplies or raise utility rates for residents.

“Crypto represents opportunity — and South Texas should be part of that future.”

“we can lead in technology and still refuse to trade away the water, land, and affordable power our children will inherit.”