Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Car-dependent commuting: 74.4% drive alone; 1.0% use public transit; mean commute 25.5 min
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Cook Partisan Voting Index (2026 rating): D+6 — Lean Seat; R shift +8 from prior cycle
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Unemployment rate: 6.1% (national: 3.5%) — elevated, reflecting border economy volatility
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.2% (national: 33.7%) — far below national average
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median age: 33.7 (national: 38.5) — significantly younger; largest cohort is 10-19 at 16.1%
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Homeownership rate: 68.3% (national: 65.5%)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Poverty rate: 15.8% (national: 12.4%) — significantly above average; 22% lack a high school diploma
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Hispanic/Latino population share: 75% — one of the most Hispanic districts in the United States
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Population (2024 estimate): 789,743 — one of the fastest-growing districts in South Texas
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median household income: $65,728 (national: $37,585)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: SB 8 (2021): Texas Heartbeat Act — effectively banning abortion at ~6 weeks with private civil enforcement (2021) — passed, margin Enacted by legislature; U.S. Supreme Court allowed to stand
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: Texas Proposition 1 (2023): Right to Farm, Ranch, Timber, and Wildlife (2023) — passed, margin 79% Yes to 21% No
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 92 (share 0.1)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 62 (share 0.14)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 211 (share 0.12)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 48-49 (share 0.18)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Laredo Sector) (2500 employees)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Laredo Medical Center (2000 employees)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: International Bank of Commerce (IBC) (3500 employees)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: H-E-B Grocery Company (4000 employees)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Laredo Independent School District (5000 employees)
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[constituency_baseline] District summary: Texas's 28th Congressional District stretches from the eastern outskirts of San Antonio south along the U.S.-Mexico border through Laredo, the Rio Grande Valley, and Zapata County — one of the poorest and most Hispanic districts in the United States. With approximately 789,743 constituents, it is a majority-minority district where 75% of residents are Hispanic. The median age is 33.7 (significantly younger than the 38.5 national average), and only 21.2% hold a bachelor's degree — well below the 33.7% national rate. Median household income is $65,728, above the national median but below Texas suburban districts, with a 15.8% poverty rate and 68.3% homeownership. The economy is anchored by cross-border trade and logistics (Laredo is the largest inland port in the U.S.), oil and gas extraction in the Eagle Ford Shale, healthcare, and agriculture. Major employers include the Laredo Independent School District, H-E-B grocery, International Bank of Commerce, and customs brokerage/logistics firms. The district is car-dependent (74.4% drive alone) with a 25.5-minute commute. Cook PVI rates the district D+6 (Lean Seat, shifted R+8 from prior cycle). Cuellar has held this seat since 2005 and won re-election in 2024 with 55% of the vote despite his federal indictment. The district's heavy reliance on Medicaid (43,000+ constituents at risk of losing coverage under H.R. 1) and SNAP makes social safety net votes especially consequential.
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted nay on H.R. 4 (Rescissions Act of 2025 ($9B in cuts: CPB, USAID, foreign assistance)) on 2025-06-12: Cuellar voted nay, aligning with the AFL-CIO position. His district's 21.2% bachelor's degree attainment and rural isolation make public broadcasting (CPB) a valuable resource. Cuellar, as a senior Appropriations Committee member, has historically supported robust foreign aid. This vote aligned with constituent interest and his institutional role. It is one of the relatively few votes where Cuellar voted with the Democratic consensus on a contested bill.
Date: 2025-06-12
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted nay on H.R. 2550 (Protecting America's Workforce Act (restoring collective bargaining rights for over one million federal workers)) on 2025-12-11: Cuellar voted against restoring collective bargaining rights for federal workers, contradicting his 2023 roundtable promise to labor leaders that he would 'advocate for policies that empower workers.' The AFL-CIO scored this as voting 'against working people.' His district's federal workers — including CBP officers, TSA agents, and other border-security personnel — were directly affected. This vote, combined with his PRO Act vote, established Cuellar as one of the most anti-union Democrats in the House, despite his district's working-class character.
Date: 2025-12-11
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted yea on H.R. 8035 (Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 ($60.8B military and economic aid)) on 2024-04-20: Cuellar voted yea with all 210 Democrats (311-112 final). The vote was party-consensus for Democrats. However, his top donor AIPAC had no Ukraine-related legislative priority, making this vote free of donor cross-pressure. Cuellar's vote aligned with Democratic foreign policy consensus and his role as a senior Appropriations Committee member overseeing defense spending. The vote's primary newsworthiness is the contrast with his Israel voting pattern, where donor alignment is more evident.
Date: 2024-04-20
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted nay on H.R. 2474 (Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (expanding union organizing rights)) on 2020-02-06: Cuellar was one of only 7 House Democrats to vote against the PRO Act, labor's top legislative priority. He stated it 'provides a one-size fits all approach that will stifle innovation, take power from workers to union bosses.' The Communications Workers of America said the seven Democrats 'betrayed working people.' Cuellar's district has a poverty rate of 15.8% and working-class families who would benefit from expanded union rights. In 2021, Cuellar was the lone Democrat to oppose it. GEO Group, his top career donor ($164,490), has aggressively fought unionization at its detention facilities.
Date: 2020-02-06
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted yea on H.R. 28 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (banning transgender athletes from women's sports)) on 2025-01-14: Cuellar was one of only 2 House Democrats (with Vicente Gonzalez) to vote for the anti-transgender sports ban, which passed 218-206. Every other Democrat opposed; Rep. Don Davis voted present. The Texas Democratic Party cited this vote as grounds for condemnation. In a district with significant LGBTQ+ youth and families, Cuellar's vote aligned him with the GOP culture-war agenda against his party's unanimous opposition. The vote was against_constituent for a young, diverse district.
Date: 2025-01-14
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted yea on H.R. 22 (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote)) on 2025-04-10: Cuellar was one of only 4 House Democrats (out of 213 voting) to support the SAVE Act, which passed 220-208. The AFL-CIO opposed this bill as creating 'duplicative and burdensome barriers for Americans to access their constitutional right to vote.' Cuellar stated the bill was 'intended to enhance public trust in election results.' His district has 21.2% bachelor's degree attainment and significant numbers of naturalized citizens who may face documentation barriers. This was an against_constituent vote creating voting obstacles in a majority-Hispanic district.
Date: 2025-04-10
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted yea on H.R. 29 (Laken Riley Act (mandatory immigration detention for theft-related arrests without conviction)) on 2025-01-07: Cuellar voted yea along with 47 other Democrats and all Republicans (264-159). His district is 75% Hispanic and sits directly on the U.S.-Mexico border — one of the most immigrant-dense districts in the country. The bill requires detention based on arrest alone, not conviction. Civil rights groups and the New Republic characterized this as 'surrendering early' to Trump's mass deportation agenda. Cuellar's vote was against the material interest of his majority-immigrant constituency, where many families have mixed immigration status. The Texas Democratic Party cited this vote as grounds for condemnation.
Date: 2025-01-07
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted nay on H.R. 3755 (Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law)) on 2021-09-24: Cuellar was the only Democrat in the entire House (218-211 vote) to vote against codifying Roe v. Wade, even as his home state of Texas had just enacted SB 8 — the nation's most restrictive abortion ban. His 75% Hispanic district overwhelmingly supports abortion access. EMILY's List stated Cuellar 'has consistently voted for extreme abortion bans.' NARAL said he 'turned his back on his constituents' freedom to make their own decisions about their families.' This was a stark against_constituent vote: the median constituent in TX-28 — a young, majority-female, Hispanic district — had their reproductive rights stripped by state law, and Cuellar voted against the federal remedy.
Date: 2021-09-24
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Voted nay on H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act (budget reconciliation — Medicaid/SNAP cuts, tax reform)) on 2025-05-22: Cuellar voted nay on a bill that passed 215-214, making his vote one of the decisive 'no' votes. He issued a detailed statement citing estimates that 'more than 43,000 people in my district could lose their health coverage — 34,000 through the Affordable Care Act and another 9,000 through Medicaid.' His district has 15.8% poverty and a median income of $65,728. The AFL-CIO scored this as voting 'with working people.' Cuellar's vote aligned with constituent material interest — a notable cross-pressure moment given his otherwise conservative voting record and his district's heavy reliance on Medicaid.
Date: 2025-05-22
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[statement] Cuellar hosted a union roundtable with more than a dozen South Texas labor leaders in June 2023, stating he 'proudly represents a district with a strong union presence' and that he would 'continue to advocate for policies that empower workers.'
Date: 2023-06-27
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[vote] Cuellar voted against the PRO Act (H.R. 2474) on February 6, 2020 — one of only 7 House Democrats to oppose the labor-backed bill. He stated the bill 'provides a one-size fits all approach that will stifle innovation, take power from workers to union bosses.' The Communications Workers of America said the seven Democrats who voted against it 'betrayed working people.'
Date: 2020-02-06
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[vote] Cuellar voted for the Laken Riley Act on January 7, 2025, joining 47 other Democrats to require mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants for nonviolent theft-related arrests. He was also one of only 4 Democrats to vote for the SAVE Act requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, and one of only 2 Democrats to vote for the anti-transgender sports ban.
Date: 2025-01-07
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[vote] Cuellar voted against the Women's Health Protection Act (H.R. 3755) on September 24, 2021 — the lone Democrat out of 218 votes to oppose codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law. The bill would have protected abortion access nationwide against state-level bans like Texas's SB 8.
Date: 2021-09-24
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[disclosure] On December 3, 2025, President Trump granted Cuellar a 'full and unconditional PARDON.' Cuellar accepted the pardon, stating it 'dismissed an injustice.' The DOJ indictment alleged Cuellar accepted nearly $600,000 from Azerbaijan's state-owned oil company and a Mexican bank, with Azerbaijani diplomats referring to him as 'El Jefe' ('The Boss'). Internal communications showed Cuellar texting he had 'submitted language today' on behalf of Azerbaijan.
Date: 2025-12-03
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
[statement] Cuellar stated after his indictment: '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.' He pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges.
Date: 2024-05-03
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Other top career contributors: Duty Free Americas ($156,800), Club for Growth ($111,919), AT&T Inc ($111,760), International Bank of Commerce ($111,350). Top industries: Oil & Gas ($1.55M), Health Professionals ($1.15M), Lawyers/Law Firms ($1.11M).
Date: 2024-06-30
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Cuellar diverted over half of his 2024 campaign funds ($784,900) to cover legal fees as he faced federal bribery charges. His campaign raised $2,125,534 in the 2023-2024 cycle with 51.58% from PAC contributions and only 0.50% from small individual donors.
Date: 2024-05-16
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Cuellar and Rep. Sanford Bishop each received $21,000 from private prison companies — more than any other sitting member of Congress. GEO Group's PAC alone contributed $64,390 to Cuellar's career campaigns.
Date: 2026-02-04
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
In the 2022 Democratic primary, AIPAC's United Democracy Project super PAC and Pro-Israel America PAC spent nearly $2 million supporting Cuellar against progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros. Cuellar won by just 289 votes. AIPAC was the #2 payor to Cuellar's campaign committee in the 2022 cycle at $247,031.
Date: 2022-05-25
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
In the 2023-2024 cycle, Cuellar's top contributor is American Israel Public Affairs Cmte at $43,300 ($33,300 individuals, $10,000 PAC). Pro-Israel industry overall contributed $117,750 ($107,750 individuals, $10,000 PAC). AIPAC routed $247,031 via 285 payments to Texans for Henry Cuellar in the 2022 cycle.
Date: 2024-12-31
Added: 02 May 2026
Pending Review
Cuellar's career (2001-2024) top industry donor is Oil & Gas at $1,552,569 ($399,667 individuals, $1,152,902 PACs). Health Professionals contributed $1,149,347. His top career contributor is GEO Group at $164,490 ($100,100 individuals, $64,390 PACs). GEO Group is a private prison and immigrant detention company.
Date: 2024-06-30
Added: 02 May 2026
GOBLIN HOUSE
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