Texas — 28th District

Henry Cuellar

Supports border security and targeted enforcement

Cuellar advocates for smart border enforcement and deporting violent criminals while opposing family separation and child detention. In Congress, he has secured millions in federal funding for border law enforcement and voted for several Republican-backed enforcement bills.

• Voted Yea on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), Laken Riley Act (S. 5), and Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act (H.R. 875).
• Secured over $61.9 million for Webb County law enforcement through Operation Stonegarden since 2008 and $7.9 million for Laredo Police Department.
• Opposes border wall construction and spending billions to lock up immigrant children or separate established families.

“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.”

Tano Tijerina

Supports border security and legal immigration

Tijerina emphasizes stopping illegal border crossings, enforcing current immigration laws, and backing law enforcement. He also supports practical, bipartisan immigration reform that respects those who enter the country legally.

• Calls for stopping illegal border crossings and strengthening support for border law enforcement officers.
• Advocates restoring order to what he characterizes as a broken immigration system.
• Emphasizes protecting pathways for families who followed legal immigration procedures.

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

Henry Cuellar

Opposes tariffs and supports consumer rebates

Cuellar opposes broad tariffs, warning they act as hidden taxes that raise household costs on food and fuel. He authored the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act to return funds to families and consistently voted against Republican federal budget reconciliation measures.

• Authored the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act to offset household costs from tariffs.
• Voted Nay on the 2025 reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811).
• Co-sponsored the largest property tax cut in Texas history during his prior state legislative service.

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

Tano Tijerina

Supports lower taxes and spending cuts

Tijerina campaigns on cutting federal taxes for working families and small businesses, curbing government spending, and reducing federal regulations. He points to his municipal record of lowering property taxes as Webb County Judge.

• Lowered local property taxes five times in ten years while serving as Webb County Judge.
• Proposes lowering federal tax burdens on small businesses and working families.
• Pledges to cut federal regulations and stop wasteful government spending.

“As Webb County Judge, he lowered property taxes five times in ten years while still delivering results.”

Henry Cuellar

Maintains innocence following presidential pardon

Cuellar maintained his innocence following a May 2024 federal indictment related to foreign influence and bribery, for which he received a full pardon from President Trump in December 2025. He emphasizes his independent voting record and bipartisan effectiveness for South Texas.

• Maintained innocence following a 2024 Justice Department indictment regarding foreign influence and bribery.
• Received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in December 2025.
• Positions himself as an independent lawmaker who places local South Texas priorities over political party alignment.

“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.”

Tano Tijerina

Demands accountability and ethical reform

Tijerina makes government integrity a central pillar of his platform, directly criticizing Cuellar over his federal corruption charges. He advocates for bringing Texas values, common sense, and strict accountability to Washington.

• Criticizes Cuellar for facing federal corruption charges and allegedly putting Washington interests ahead of South Texas.
• Switched from the Democratic to the Republican Party in December 2024 to offer new leadership.
• Pledges to introduce accountability, fiscal discipline, and less bureaucracy in Congress.

“For years, our district has had a member of Congress who has grown too comfortable in Washington while families here struggle, and now he is facing serious federal corruption accusations that have shaken the trust of the people he is supposed to serve.”

Henry Cuellar

Supports stablecoin regulatory framework

Cuellar voted in favor of bipartisan federal legislation to establish a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins.

• Voted Yea on the GENIUS Act (S. 1582) to establish regulations for payment stablecoins.

Tano Tijerina

Supports pro-crypto and pro-AI innovation

Tijerina advocates for clear crypto regulations that protect financial privacy and keep technological development in the U.S. He proposes making South Texas a center for artificial intelligence, technology, and logistics.

• Supports clear, fair regulatory framework for cryptocurrency to foster domestic growth and financial privacy.
• Proposes turning South Texas and the port of Laredo into a hub for AI, technology, and logistics.
• Advocates investing in infrastructure and workforce development for emerging tech industries.

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

Henry Cuellar

Supports federal defense spending

Cuellar serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and consistently votes for federal defense authorization acts.

• Voted Yea on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670).
• Serves on Defense and Military Construction & VA Appropriations subcommittees.

Tano Tijerina

Supports America First foreign policy

Tijerina supports an 'America First' foreign policy grounded in national strength, backing allies such as Israel, and confronting hostile foreign regimes.

• Advocates confronting foreign regimes that threaten U.S. security.
• Pledges to stand firmly with foreign allies, including Israel.
• Focuses on securing critical domestic infrastructure and inland ports.

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

Henry Cuellar

Supports domestic energy production

Cuellar voted for legislation aimed at increasing domestic energy and fossil fuel production while opposing measures to block environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in retirement planning.

• Voted Yea on the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand domestic oil, natural gas, coal, and critical mineral production.
• Voted Nay on H.J.Res. 30, opposing a resolution to override Labor Department rules permitting ESG considerations in retirement plan investments.

Henry Cuellar

Supports public education and healthcare funding

Cuellar highlights his history of establishing education grants, expanding children's health insurance, and securing federal funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. He also voted for federal restrictions on transgender athletes in women's sports.

• Authored the TEXAS Grant financial aid program and established Laredo's initial Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• Secured federal funding additions for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
• Voted Yea on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28).