Webb County judge (D) disputes allegation that he violated federal law to dodge Texas' resign-to-run rule
Ahead of his expected run for a Laredo-based congressional seat, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina is disputing allegations lodged in a federal complaint that accuses the Republican county executive of violating federal election law by trying to circumvent Texas’ resign-to-run rule.
While he has not formally launched a campaign, Tijerina has been exploring a run for Texas’ 28th Congressional District, which runs from San Antonio to the border and covers all of Webb County. The seat has been held by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, since 2005.
The complaint, filed by author and former ethics professor Cecilia Martinez of San Antonio, alleges that Tijerina has improperly kept his campaign “under the guise of an exploratory committee” because he wants to avoid triggering the Texas Constitution’s resign-to-run provision. The law holds that certain local officials automatically resign their seat if they announce their candidacy for another position with more than one year and 30 days left in their term.
Tijerina is currently serving his third term as county judge, which ends on Dec. 31, 2026. That means he would have to resign his seat if he announced his congressional bid on or before Dec. 1 of this year. If Tijerina holds off on launching his candidacy until Tuesday next week, he can remain in his county position through the end of next year.
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/24/tano-tijerina-resign-to-run-law-fec-complaint-henry-cuellar-congress/