Who's running in Texas's 28th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Henry Cuellar currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Border security funding and border infrastructure, his committee's core jurisdiction.
Federal appropriations for district infrastructure and military needs.
Economic opportunity and health care for South Texas families.
Tariff relief; he introduced the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act of 2026.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 28th District since 2005; re-elected in 2024 with 52.8%.
The only Texas Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee; ranking member of its Homeland Security subcommittee, and a member of the Defense and Military Construction–VA subcommittees.
Secured an additional $15 million to expand the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 35 near Laredo.
Introduced the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act of 2026.
Indicted with his wife in May 2024 on bribery, money laundering and conspiracy charges involving roughly $600,000 from an Azerbaijani state oil company and a Mexico City bank; he denied wrongdoing.
Received a full and unconditional pardon from President Trump in December 2025, before the scheduled April 2026 trial.
Faced little opposition in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
As the only Texas Democrat on Appropriations he brings money back that the district would not otherwise get — border infrastructure, military construction and local projects.
— Henry Cuellar's campaign
His opponent's attacks are political opportunism from a former Democrat who is now downplaying work he previously praised.
— Texas Democrats, as reported by Spectrum News
Arguments against
He has grown too comfortable in Washington while families here struggle, and faced serious federal corruption accusations that shook the trust of the people he serves.
— Tano Tijerina, his opponent
"He has not done anything. He's been a stumbling block for 21 years" — and he takes credit for grants that cities and counties secured themselves.
— Tano Tijerina, on the campaign trail
What we couldn’t verify
The pardon ended the prosecution before any verdict, so the underlying allegations were never tested at trial.
Whether the Department of Justice is continuing any part of the case against his wife was not clearly established in the sources found.
His position on the district's water and agricultural issues was not stated in material available.
Lower property taxes, which he says he delivered as county judge.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Webb County judge; announced his congressional campaign in December 2025.
A Democrat until switching parties for this race; as a Democrat he defended county election officials after a recount discrepancy in Cuellar's 2024 re-election and worked to expand voting access before the 2022 elections.
Endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Says he lowered property taxes nearly half a dozen times, expanded Meals on Wheels and provided utility relief as county judge.
Won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
He has run a county government — lowering property taxes repeatedly, expanding Meals on Wheels and providing utility relief — and would choose South Texas over Washington.
— Tano Tijerina's campaign
He carries President Trump's endorsement in a district that has moved sharply toward Republicans.
— President Donald Trump's endorsement
Arguments against
His attacks are political opportunism: he praised Cuellar in the past, was a Democrat until this race, and as county judge defended the election officials and voting access he now campaigns against.
— Texas Democrats, as reported by Spectrum News, and reporting by the Washington Examiner on his record
His central campaign claim about cutting property taxes does not hold up as stated, and a complaint alleged he violated federal law to avoid Texas's resign-to-run rule; his committee called the complaint a political sham.
— Spectrum News, in a review of his campaign advertising, and the complaint reported by KSAT
What we couldn’t verify
The resign-to-run complaint's outcome was not established in the sources found.
His positions on health care, trade and immigration policy specifics were not stated in material available.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Texas held its primary on March 3, 2026. Three candidates are on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Henry Cuellar, Republican Tano Tijerina and Green Party candidate Marlón Durán. Cuellar and his wife were indicted in May 2024 on bribery, money laundering and conspiracy charges over roughly $600,000 said to have come from an Azerbaijani state oil company and a Mexico City bank; they were due to stand trial in April 2026, but President Trump granted Cuellar a full and unconditional pardon in December 2025. Tijerina, the Webb County judge, is a former Democrat and has President Trump's endorsement; the Republican congressional committee has added the district to its target list. The district runs from Laredo south to McAllen and north toward San Antonio. Roster confirmed against the Texas Secretary of State's certified ballot. Arguments for and against are shown for the two major-party candidates, who have organised campaigns and published critics on both sides. The minor-party and independent candidates on this ballot have received essentially no independent coverage, so no case is made for or against them in either direction; what is known about them is set out in their profiles.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Texas ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.