TX-28: Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar gets primary challenger

[RandySF]

Texas Rep. Henry Cueller, one of the more conservative Democrats in Congress, is getting a primary challenger who has support from the progressive group that backed New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her bid for office.

Immigration and human rights lawyer Jessica Cisneros, 26, who was an intern for Cuellar five years ago, announced her primary campaign Thursday to unseat the eight-term incumbent in Texas’ 28th District that stretches along the southern border with Mexico and reaches north into San Antonio.

In a news release Thursday, Cisneros labeled Cueller “Trump’s favorite Democrat,” highlighting his A rating from the National Rifle Association; his votes to defund sanctuary cities and women’s health facilities that provide abortions; and his continued relationship with the Koch brothers, the Texas-based energy barons that have spent millions of dollars supporting libertarian think tanks and conservative political candidates.

Cuellar, who was first elected in 2004, is a former chairman of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition. He voted with Democratic leadership 76 percent of the time in the last Congress, the third-lowest score among Democrats in President Donald Trump’s first term, according to CQ’s Party Unity Study. He also voted with Trump 67 percent of the time in the 115th Congress, the second-highest score for a House Democrat, according to CQ Vote Watch.

“South Texas votes Democrat(?) because we believed a Democrat would protect our rights and fight for our families,” Cisneros wrote on her campaign website unveiled this week. “But Cuellar is not a Democrat. We need to elect a representative who is accountable to us — not big corporate donors, lobbyists, Trump and Republicans.”



https://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/conservative-texas-democrat-henry-cuellar-gets-primary-challenger

[TexasTowelie]

1. I doubt that Cuellar is concerned.

Cisneros is welcome to enter the race, but Cuellar is popular in that district.

[shanny]

2. are you OK with Koch Bros-funded Dems?

imo we don't need or want a tent that big

[TexasTowelie]

3. I don't get into strawnan arguments.

Take it elsewhere.

[shanny]

4. So you are saying he doesn't take money

from the Kochs? 'Cause if he does, that ain't no strawman.







O

[TexasTowelie]

5. Stop it.

I never said that so be respectful and stop misinterpreting my statements.

What I said I'd that Cisneros doesn't stand a chance in that district. I grew up in that region of Texas and I know that AOC's politics will not gain any traction in an area that is dependent on oil and natural gas production.

[shanny]

6. Then I guess Texas Ds

have work to do. Good luck.

[TexasTowelie]

7. I'm not out to change the world

and criticizing Texas Democrats doesn't help your cause.

[shanny]

8. Wouldn't that be "our" cause?

And does a congresscritter who votes with tRump 67% of the time really qualify as a D, anywhere?

[TexasTowelie]

9. I've seen your posts before and I'm comfortable saying your cause

is not necessarily our cause, shanny. Cuellar is popular in that district and Cisneros won't make it past the primary.

[shanny]

10. Hmmm. Makes me wonder

what you think "our" cause is, or should be. I always thought it was the job of liberals and progressives to promote liberal, progressive policies.

You know, "change the world" for the better, for all. If that is not the case, why bother with any of this? It would be easier not to.

Just as it would be easier not to oppose Cuellar.

[TexasTowelie]

11. Keep wondering.

I'm a member of the Democratic Party. I'm not a member of the Progressive Party or the Democratic Socialist Party.

[shanny]

12. I don't need to.

Not interested in changing the world. Got it.

[TexasTowelie]

13. Thank God that I don't have to meet anyone's purity test. nt

[RandiFan1290]

14. Thank you!

[RandySF]

16. I respect your opinion of Cuellar, but I think we can do better in such a blue district.

Cisneros may not be the answer, but there's got to be someone out there.

[TexasTowelie]

17. I didn't say that I agreed with Cuellar, but that his views do reflect those of his constituency.

The one Democrat in the Laredo area that might be able to contend with Cuellar is state representative Judy Zaffirini. However, she has no interest in the congressional seat.

While the district is drawn as a safe Democratic seat, if a liberal "AOC-style" Democrat is the nominee, then it could also become a vulnerable seat and flip to the Republicans. The district isn't very different than the district near Corpus Christi which was represented by Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D) until he was defeated by Blake Farenthold (R) and now by Michael McCloud (R). One of the nearby districts extending into the RGV is represented by Filemon Vela who is also considered "moderate."

The district is largely Hispanic, rural, and Roman Catholic. The constituents also have less education than in other portions of the state with the largest university being Texas A&M International in Laredo. So while Cuellar is anti-LGBT, pro gun rights, pro-life, and anti-immigrant, that is also what the constituents want. The fact that Cisneros is an immigration attorney, young, and a woman are factors that will work against her when competing with an incumbent who already has schools named in his honor and "brings home the bacon" to his district. Unless Cuellar is convicted of a crime or is involved in some type of scandal, his voting record on the issues mentioned in this thread won't have any impact.

AOC and the Justice Democrats made a mistake trying to spearhead a campaign against Cuellar. I think that this article from the McAllen Monitor gives a more balanced assessment of the politics in that district:
https://www.themonitor.com/2019/06/14/immigration-attorneys-challenge-rep-cuellar-signals-left-wings-rgv-arrival/

Of course, anything can happen in politics. However, Cuellar's district isn't like AOC's district and I don't believe that Cuellar would take the race for granted like Crowley did in NYC.

[Celerity]

15. so glad to see this, highest Dem Trump score in the House last term, anti LGBTQ, pro-life, anti-

immigrant, pro NRA, etc. He was higher in his Trump score than multiple Republicans

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/house/

115th Congress






He is Pro-Life (votes that way), voted to ban abortion from all federal healthcare, voted to restrict minors going to an out of state abortion clinic, etc.

http://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Henry_Cuellar_Abortion.htm

http://time.com/4782994/democrats-anti-abortion-men-congress/


Rate A- by the NRA

https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/how-the-nra-grades-the-34-members-of-texass-congressional-delegation/

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D, Laredo.
NRA rating: A-
NRA campaign contribution: $2,000


Raised money for a Republican

In the U.S. House, Democrat Henry Cuellar raises eyebrows by fundraising for Republican John Carter

https://www.texastribune.org/2018/09/11/democrat-henry-cuellar-fundraising-republican-john-carter/



Private Prison Campaign Cash Still Welcomed by Some Democrats in the Trump Era

https://rewire.news/article/2018/09/14/private-prison-campaign-cash-still-welcomed-by-some-democrats-in-the-trump-era/

No congressional Democrat has received more financial backing from private prisons than Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who has taken $88,990 from GEO Group and CoreCivic America since 2012, according to Open Secrets. Cuellar, who has voted in line with the president 68.9 percent of the time, has received more campaign cash from GEO Group in 2018 than any congressional lawmaker but Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). Almost all of Cuellar’s private prison campaign cash over the past six years has come from GEO Group, which has a history of in-custody deaths and other abuses. Cuellar’s office didn’t answer questions submitted by Rewire.News about the Democrat’s acceptance of private prison campaign money.


He was the only Democrat to vote for a House bill that would have made it easier to deport unaccompanied minors from Central America.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Cuellar-From-migrant-family-to-growing-clout-in-5801927.php

“We have to send a signal,” he said.


Rated as low as 25% on LGBTQ Issues by the Human Rights Campaign in some years

https://www.hrc.org/resources/congressional-scorecard

Was strongly against same-sex marriage
http://www.qsanantonio.com/cuellar-gallego.html


Has an anti-LGBTQ voting record

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/04/02/meet-8-house-dems-dont-co-sponsor-enda/



He is the 2nd most conservative Democrat in the House, now that Sinema was elected to the Senate from Arizona.

GovTrack

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2017/party-house-democrat/ideology

2017 Report Cards
House Democrats / Ideology Score

These special year-end statistics dissect the legislative records of Members of Congress during the 2017 legislative year (Jan 3, 2017-Dec 31, 2017), looking at Members who served at the end of that period. This page was last updated on Jan 6, 2018.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS
most conservative

#1 0.71 Rep. Collin Peterson [D-MN7]
#2 0.64 Sen. Kyrsten Sinema [D-AZ] now US Senator
#3 0.57 Rep. Henry Cuellar [D-TX28]
#4 0.54 Rep. Ron Kind [D-WI3]
#5 0.53 Rep. Josh Gottheimer [D-NJ5]
#6 0.53 Rep. Jim Costa [D-CA16]
#7 0.50 Rep. Kurt Schrader [D-OR5]
#8 0.47 Rep. Tom O’Halleran [D-AZ1]
#9 0.47 Rep. Vicente Gonzalez [D-TX15]
#10 0.45 Rep. John Delaney [D-MD6, 2013-2018]
#11 0.45 Rep. Gene Green [D-TX29, 1993-2018]
#12 0.45 Rep. Filemon Vela [D-TX34]
#13 0.44 Rep. Timothy Walz [D-MN1, 2007-2018]
#14 0.44 Rep. Cheri Bustos [D-IL17] <<< have seen her mentioned as a possible future Speaker of the House
#15 0.44 Rep. A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D-MD2]
#16 0.44 Rep. Bradley Schneider [D-IL10]
#17 0.44 Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D-IL3]
#18 0.44 Rep. Stephanie Murphy [D-FL7]
#19 0.44 Rep. David Loebsack [D-IA2]
#20 0.44 Rep. Sanford Bishop [D-GA2]



Its a safe Democratic district

Happy to see him primaried. His views (and multiple votes) are offensive and out of touch with our party.

[TexasTowelie]

19. See post #17.

The district could flip Republican just like the district represented by Solomon Ortiz flipped in 2010. While I disagree with Cuellar on many issues, he seems to keep his constituency satisfied. The districts represented by Vicente Gonzalez and Filemon Vela are somewhat similar to Cuellar's district and are in proximity.

There are other races in Texas that I would donate money to that are more likely to result in change (e.g. Gina Ortiz vs. Ron Hurd) which would result in flipping a red seat to blue.

[Celerity]

20. it will not take an 'AOC' LW firebrand, all I want is non homophobic, non forced-birther, non

anti-immigrant, non-Republican-endorsing, non pro-NRA regular (you know, OUR PLATFORM) Democratic option.

Those issues are non-negotiable. Cuellar's views and voting record are unacceptable. I will deffo give as much as possible to his primary opponent.

[TexasTowelie]

21. You are welcome to donate as you please.

I have a limited income so I'll concentrate on the races where I believe there is a higher probability of having an impact. Having grown up in South Texas and knowing the voters in that region of the state I don't see this as winnable for Cisneros. Cuellar is a conservative Democrat, but I also do not want this seat to flip to the GOP.

[Turin_C3PO]

18. I hope Cuellar loses.

I’m usually not big on primarying fellow Dems but Cuellar is a true DINO.

[Jake Stern]

22. And I thought Dan Lipinski was the House's version of Joe Manchin

Looks like I was wrong.