In bellwether Texas primary for Democrats, Rep. Cuellar, challenger Cisneros go to runoff

Political observers are looking to see whether Texas is moving left, as longtime conservative Dem fends challenge from 28-year-old progressive

Henry Cuellar, Washington, D.C., July 2021

By Sophie Mann

Jessica Cisneros, a 28-year-old immigration attorney, on Tuesday night forced a runoff against Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar – in a closely watched Democrat primary that could show whether midterm voters are leaning left or moving to the center.

Neither candidate – Cuellar, a conservative, and Cisneros, a progressive – secured the 50% of the vote, forcing a May runoff.

Cisneros has endorsements from progressive stalwarts Sens. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, and Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, and several members of "The Squad" – the collective of progressive-minded House Democrats.

A victory for a progressive like Cisneros would mark a distinct shift within south Texas' 28th congressional district, which runs from San Antonio to the Mexico border.

The race is a 2020 rematch in which Cuellar defeated his former intern by four points.

In recent weeks, the Cisneros campaign has gone after Cuellar over the an FBI raid of his house just days before the start of primary voting.