By Dayna Reyes, Reporter
LAREDO, Texas — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has rolled out a massive wave of bipartisan support across the 28th Congressional District, securing endorsements from more than 100 local elected officials and key organizations spanning all 12 counties in his district.
The coalition includes a broad mix of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, featuring county sheriffs, police chiefs, mayors, county commissioners, city council members, and state officials.
The Laredo Democrat, currently the longest-serving elected official in South Texas, pointed to the cross-party backing as a reflection of his long-standing focus on regional collaboration and federal funding delivery.
“I’m honored by this overwhelming show of support for my reelection, not for what it says about me, but because it reflects the tremendous success we’ve had here in South Texas by working as a team,” Cuellar said in a statement. “No matter where in the District I am, I share the same message: by working together, we can get big things done for the people we are privileged to represent.”
Cuellar emphasized that his legislative strategy has consistently prioritized infrastructure, public safety, and economic development, which he credits with bringing billions in federal investments back to South Texas communities.
"The billions of dollars we’ve been able to bring home are proof of that," Cuellar added. "Team South Texas is just getting started and I look forward to continuing that work in Congress.”
Ranked among the most bipartisan members in the U.S. House, Cuellar’s campaign highlighted his record on funding for local border security, agricultural grants for farmers and ranchers, healthcare access, and education investments.
One of the community leaders endorsing Cuellar is veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock, of Ron Whitlock Reports.
“I have endorsed Henry five times. In fact, he was the first ever elected official I endorsed in a 60-year career tin radio and TV broadcasting,” Whitlock said. “The fact is, Henry brings home the bacon. He has secured billions of dollars for our South Texas region. And he has always supported my efforts in advocating to improve the lives of South Texas families.”
Blas Castañeda, a former Laredo city council member, is also endorsing Cuellar. He said: “Our district has benefited enormously from his leadership and his caring for the communities he represents. Some of his greatest achievements have been in education with financial aid for our youth and adults. He has secured major funding to help support our college and university to allow students to secure the highest level of career portfolio for successful career growth.”
Castaneda added: “Our health and medical access has also improved. And our Laredo Port of Entry is now the largest in the country due to Congressman Cuellar securing state and national funding to support our industries and support the huge economic growth we have seen. This has led to thousands of new career jobs for our citizens of all ages.”
If re-elected, Cuellar is set to take on two key leadership positions: serving as the dean of the Texas congressional delegation and becoming the first border representative to chair the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
Endorsements
Here is a list of some of the South Texas leaders who have endorsed Congressman Cuellar:
Legislators
- Terry Canales — State Representative, HD 40 · Hidalgo County
- Oscar Longoria — State Representative, HD 35 · Hidalgo County
- Armando “Mando” Martinez — State Representative, HD 39 · Hidalgo County
- Sergio Muñoz, Jr. — State Representative, HD 36 · Hidalgo County
- Eddie Morales — State Representative, HD 74 · Maverick County
- Richard Raymond — State Representative, HD 42 · Webb County
County Leaders
- Lita Leo — County Treasurer · Hidalgo County
- David L. Fuentes — County Commissioner · Hidalgo County
- Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu — County Commissioner · Hidalgo County
- Everardo “Ever” Villarreal — County Commissioner · Hidalgo County
- Ellie Torres — County Commissioner · Hidalgo County
- Noel Niavez — County Commissioner, Precinct 1 · La Salle County
- Joaquin Alba — County Commissioner, Precinct 2 · La Salle County
- Erasmo Ramirez, Jr. — County Commissioner, Precinct 3 · La Salle County
- Raul Ayala — County Commissioner, Precinct 4 · La Salle County
- Raul “Roy” Peña, III — County Commissioner, Precinct 2 · Starr County
- Eleazar Velasquez — County Commissioner, Precinct 3 · Starr County
- Rosy Cantu — Candidate, County Commissioner, Precinct 2 · Maverick County
- Rose Benavidez — Candidate, County Judge · Starr County
- Danny Valdez — Former County Judge · Webb County
- Mercurio Martinez — Former County Judge · Webb County
- Mal Torres — Democratic Chairwoman · Live Oak County
Mayors, City Officials, Community Leaders
- Robert “Doc” Williams — Mayor, Jourdanton · Atascosa County
- Silvestre Cerna, III — Mayor, Big Wells · Dimmit County
- Alex Bustamante, Jr. — Mayor, Asherton · Dimmit County
- Mario Ruiz — Mayor, Carrizo Springs · Dimmit County
- Sally Lichtenberger — Mayor, San Diego · Duval County
- Ramiro Loya — Mayor, Peñitas · Hidalgo County
- Osiel Ramos — Mayor Pro Tempore, Peñitas · Hidalgo County
- Hector Juarez — City Council, Peñitas, Place 2 · Hidalgo County
- Felipe Quintanilla — City Council, Peñitas, Place 3 · Hidalgo County
- Guadalupe Moreno, Jr. — City Council, Peñitas, Place 4 · Hidalgo County
- Ambrosio “Amos” Hernandez — Mayor, Pharr · Hidalgo County
- Michael Pacheco — Commissioner, Pharr, Place 1 · Hidalgo County
- Roberto “Bobby” Carrillo — Commissioner, Pharr, Place 2 · Hidalgo County
- Ramiro Caballero, M.D. — Commissioner, Pharr, Place 3 · Hidalgo County
- Daniel Chavez — Commissioner, Pharr, Place 4 · Hidalgo County
- Isidro Casanova — Mayor, La Joya · Hidalgo County
- Enrique Cantu — Mayor Pro Tempore, La Joya · Hidalgo County
- Irma Veloz — City Council, La Joya, Place 1 · Hidalgo County
- Angie Garza — City Council, La Joya, Place 3 · Hidalgo County
- Laura M. Macias — City Council, La Joya, Place 4 · Hidalgo County
- Sylvia Castillo — Mayor, Sullivan City · Hidalgo County
- Isaac Villalon — City Council, Sullivan City, Place 1 · Hidalgo County
- Nicolas Cerda — City Council, Sullivan City, Place 2 · Hidalgo County
- Rene Peña — City Council, Sullivan City, Place 3 · Hidalgo County
- Ruben Villalon — City Council, Sullivan City, Place 4 · Hidalgo County
- Sergio Coronado — Mayor, Hidalgo · Hidalgo County
- Ricardo Villarreal — Mayor, Palmview · Hidalgo County
- Cesar Pena, Jr. — Mayor Pro Tempore, Palmview · Hidalgo County
- Javier Ramirez — City Council, Palmview, Place 1 · Hidalgo County
- Alexandra Flores — City Council, Palmview, Place 3 · Hidalgo County
- Benito Hernandez — City Council, Palmview, Place 4 · Hidalgo County
- Ron Whitlock — Radio & TV Broadcaster
- Sandra Luna — Mayor, Cotulla · La Salle County
- Elias Diaz — City Council, Eagle Pass, Place 2 · Maverick County
- Gilberto Falcon — Mayor, Rio Grande City · Starr County
- Ediel Barrera — Mayor Pro Tempore, Rio Grande City · Starr County
- Roger Olivarez — Commissioner, Rio Grande City · Starr County
- Eudolio “Nune” Barrera — Commissioner, Rio Grande City · Starr County
- Jaime Escobar, Jr. — Mayor, Roma · Starr County
- Macario Villarreal III — Mayor, La Grulla · Starr County
- Fernando Garza — Mayor, Escobares · Starr County
- Raul Salinas — Former Mayor, Laredo · Webb County
- Juan Narvaez — Former City Councilor, Laredo · Webb County
- Blas Castañeda — Former City Councilor, Laredo · Webb County
- Salvador Vela — Mayor, Alton · Hidalgo County
- Arturo Galvan, Jr. — Mayor Pro Tempore, Alton · Hidalgo County
- Ricardo Garza — Commissioner, Alton, Place 2 · Hidalgo County
- Richard Arevalo — Commissioner, Alton, Place 3 · Hidalgo County
- Emilio Cantu, Jr. — Commissioner, Alton, Place 4 · Hidalgo County
- Victor “Seby” Haddad — Former Commissioner, McAllen · Hidalgo County
- Jose Luis Ochoa, Jr. — President, Agua SUD, District 4 · Hidalgo County
- Roel De Hoyos — Vice President, Agua SUD, District 3 · Hidalgo County
- Gerardo Perez — Secretary, Agua SUD, District 1 · Hidalgo County
- Ricardo Perez — Treasurer, Agua SUD, District 6 · Hidalgo County
- Ana Maria Perez — Director, Agua SUD, District 5 · Hidalgo County
- Dr. Adriana Villarreal — Director, Agua SUD, District 7 · Hidalgo County
- Alex Moreno — Director, Agua SUD, District 2 · Hidalgo County
Law Enforcement
- Ernest Guerra — Police Chief, Pleasanton · Atascosa County
- Santos Gonzales — Police Chief, Jourdanton · Atascosa County
- Rex Newman — Police Chief, Poteet · Atascosa County
- Chris Castaneda — County Sheriff · Dimmit County
- Romeo R. Ramirez — County Sheriff · Duval County
- J.E. “Eddie” Guerra — County Sheriff · Hidalgo County
- Lazaro “Larry” Gallardo, Jr. — County Constable, Precinct 3 · Hidalgo County
- Erasmo Alarcón, Jr. — County Sheriff · Jim Hogg County
- Hector C. Ramirez — County Sheriff · La Salle County
- Tom Schmerber — County Sheriff · Maverick County
- Amy Gonzalez — Police Chief, Eagle Pass · Maverick County
- Rene Fuentes — County Sheriff · Starr County
- IV Garza, Jr. — Police Chief, Roma · Starr County
- Jose Solis — Police Chief, Rio Grande City · Starr County
- Jesse Alvarez — Interim Police Chief, Escobares · Starr County
- Guadalupe Gomez — County Constable, Precinct 1 · Webb County
- Miguel “Mike” Villareal — County Constable, Precinct 2 · Webb County
- Rolando San Miguel — County Constable, Precinct 4 · Webb County
- Ramon Montes — County Sheriff · Zapata County
- Daniel Arriaga — Fire Chief · Zapata County
Labor
- NALC Local Branch 421 — Atascosa County
- Laredo Firefighters Local 872 — Webb County
- Laredo Fire Department Association — Webb County
- AFGE — National
- LIUNA Southwest Laborers District Council — National
Business & Trade
- Association of Logistics & Forwarding Agents (ALFA) — Import/Export · Webb County
- Laredo Motor Carriers Association (LMCA) — Webb County
- David Gonzalez — Owner, Therapatitos · Webb County
- Fatima Rodriguez Herrington — Business Owner · McMullen County
- Texas Farm Bureau
- Cattle Raisers PAC
- United States Hispanic Business Council — National
- National Association of REALTORS® — National
Unions
- LUPE (La Unión del Pueblo Entero) — Immigration organization · Hidalgo County
- UnidosUS — National
- Blue Dogs PAC — National
- BOLD PAC — National
Fundraising
Meanwhile, the Texans for Cuellar campaign announced Cuellar raised more than $800,000 in Q3, giving the campaign the necessary resources to finish strong. This number keeps Congressman Cuellar’s total cash on hand over $1 million and brings his total raise this cycle to over $3 million.
“It’s the honor of my life to represent my friends and neighbors in Congress,” Cuellar said. “I’ve worked hard to bring critical federal dollars back to South Texas, but I’m not done yet. Working together, and powered by the support of this community, I’ll keep fighting to bring down costs, protect Medicare and social security, and keep our communities safe. Onwards to November!”
Texans for Cuellar describe the fundraising effort as “robust.” They said it demonstrates “continued strong enthusiasm from donors who know that, despite all efforts to gerrymander this seat and steal it from the people of South Texas, Congressman Cuellar is the only candidate truly representing the interests of Texas’ 28th congressional district.”
The team added: “Throughout his career, Congressman Cuellar has stood up for working families, protected access to health care and Social Security, lowered costs, and fought for safer, stronger communities across South Texas — work he’ll continue doing in Congress come January.”
