Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, has a new Republican challenger for reelection who is a familiar face: his former district director.
After serving as a press secretary and district director for Cuellar in the 28th Congressional District of South Texas for two years, Jose Sanz declared his candidacy for Cuellar’s seat on Wednesday.
“In a news release, Sanz expressed that the experience had no equal. Nevertheless, as time went by, it became evident that his values and beliefs did not coincide with those of the office. In order to advocate for what holds utmost importance to him – his conservative ideals and the representation of the family values of District 28 in Washington, D.C. – Sanz had to make a decision to bring about a change.”
Cuellar’s campaign promptly reacted.
“In a repeat occurrence, we are once again witnessing the entrance of a Republican candidate into the race without any prior experience or ties to the 28th Congressional District of Texas,” stated Jake Hochberg, a spokesperson for Cuellar. “Rest assured, we will emerge victorious once more, with a resounding triumph.”
According to his campaign, Sanz was born in Mexico City, brought up in the suburbs of Houston, and presently resides in Laredo, where he is registered to vote as well.
Sanz’s campaign marks the recent development in a series of political upheavals that began with Cuellar. Facing tough primary contests in 2020 and 2022, Sanz went head-to-head against Jessica Cisneros, a former intern turned left-wing challenger. Adding to the tumult, the FBI conducted a raid on his residence in Laredo during the 2022 primary. Despite denying any misconduct, the reasons behind the raid remain ambiguous. It’s important to note that Sanz has not been apprehended or accused of any crimes.
In addition to the 2022 primary, the leaking of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade highlighted Cuellar’s position as the sole House Democrat who opposes abortion, attracting unwanted scrutiny.
In the 2022 general election, National Republicans focused their efforts on challenging Cuellar in South Texas, a region with a predominantly Hispanic population. However, Cuellar emerged victorious, surpassing expectations by securing a larger margin of victory against his Republican opponent, Cassy Garcia.
In 2024, the National Republican Congressional Committee is once again focusing on South Texas, but their attention is not directed towards Cuellar. Kyle Sinclair, a Republican candidate who earlier this year declared his intent to challenge Cuellar, withdrew from the race in June.
Cisneros has not ruled out a third run against Cuellar, but he has been working to avoid that, securing the endorsements of House Democratic leaders and reaching out to labor groups who previously opposed him.
In addition to his time working in Cuellar’s office, Sanz’s announcement highlighted his background as a “previously employed ESPN-Mexico television sports analyst.” Sanz immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 9 and pursued his education in suburban Houston. He later enrolled at the University of Houston, as stated by his campaign.
Sanz made a pledge to give utmost importance to border security, a critical concern shared by both parties in the district.
Cuellar has established a reputation for prioritizing security and enforcement when addressing immigration matters, distinguishing himself from other members within his party.
According to LegiStorm, a platform for data on Congress, Sanz was employed in Cuellar’s office starting from August 2021 and continued working until at least June of the current year.
“In this announcement,” stated Sanz, “I possess a profound understanding of this district. Characterized by its conservative nature, the district seeks a Congressman who will safeguard their cherished family values and way of life.”
Disclosure: University of Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
