In a high-profile south Texas Democratic primary that highlighted severe inherent tension over immigration and abortion rights, centrist U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar was clutching onto a small lead early on Wednesday over progressive rival Jessica Cisneros, Reuters reported.
Cuellar, who has held the seat since 2005, faced a battle against Cisneros, a 28-year-old attorney who failed to defeat him in 2020 but drove him into a runoff in the state’s March primary this year.
Cuellar was ahead by just 177 votes, according to Edison Research, with 92% of the anticipated vote recorded. The race was not called by the major media outlets.
Cuellar declared victory despite the narrow margin in the Texas Democratic Primary. Cisneros, on the other hand, refused to concede, insisting that every ballot be tallied.
After a leaked Supreme Court decision hinted that it may overturn a 1973 rule that legalized abortion nationally, the campaign took on additional importance in recent weeks.
Cuellar, 66, is the only Democrat in the House who opposes abortion rights, and pro-abortion organizations have spent at least $160,000 on Cisneros’ campaign.
Cuellar has stated that eliminating law enforcement funds in a district where many people work for border patrol agencies would jeopardize public safety and harm the local economy.
Cisneros has now backtracked on her proposal for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be abolished.
Cisneros’ victory might jeopardize Democrats’ prospects of keeping the seat in the Nov. 8 election, when Republicans seek to take control of the House of Representatives.
But, according to Joshua Blank, research director of the University of Texas in Austin’s Texas Politics Project, Cuellar’s success in the general election should not be assumed.
Cisneros has benefited from greater public awareness as well as an FBI probe that included searches on Cuellar’s home and office.
According to financial filings released on Friday, she has raised about $1.4 million more than Cuellar and has nearly $400,000 more cash on hand.
The contest is one of several House Democratic incumbents vs. progressive opponents in the midterm elections.
Jamie McLeod-Skinner appears to be on track to defeat moderate incumbent Kurt Schrader in Oregon, while Summer Lee leads Steve Irwin in Pennsylvania. Nina Turner, a progressive contender from Ohio, was defeated.
Be the first to comment