The new map of a U.S. congressional district has spurred a domino effect statewide: a longtime congressman’s retirement, an incumbent running in another district and a batch of new hopefuls representing a new constituency.
President Donald Trump recently endorsed Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz for the seat Texas Republicans drew at his request. Democrats also see a chance to win in November.
The longtime Laredo congressman fended off Republican challenger Jay Furman despite a federal indictment accusing the incumbent of bribery and money laundering.
Democrat incumbent Henry Cuellar stormed back from behind to narrowly defeat Republican challenger Jay Furman in the race for U.S. Representative District 28.
Voters in Bexar County and beyond are already casting early voting ballots ahead of the Nov. 5 election, including for president, US senator, representatives in the U.S. and Texas houses, plus other candidates running for office at the state and local levels. Some voters will also decide municipal and school propositions.
The move is a shift in strategy for Republicans who previously focused on other South Texas races even after federal authorities filed criminal charges against the Democrat.
Furman won the Republican nomination in a runoff against Lazaro Garza. Cuellar’s criminal charges have suddenly made it a high-profile race.
While a majority of party nominations were decided in the March Primary election in Texas, there are still a handful of races that need to be determined.
Instead, Republicans are trying to tie Cuellar’s allegations of bribery and corruption to Democrats in other competitive races in South Texas.