GOP’s Calculus on Rep. Cuellar’s Indictment: Why Texas Republicans Have Not Made a Move

The recent indictment of Rep. Henry Cuellar, a longtime Laredo Democrat, has raised questions about the future of his seat in South Texas. Cuellar and his wife are accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank, allegations they deny. Despite the charges, most Republicans are not calling for Cuellar to step down, and his seat is not a top target for the GOP.

Political analysts suggest that Republicans may be hesitant to invest resources in flipping Cuellar’s seat due to his conservative stance on issues like abortion rights and his history of working with GOP members on border security and oil and gas issues. Instead, the GOP is focusing on protecting freshman Rep. Monica De La Cruz and supporting Republican Mayra Flores in challenging Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez.

Jason Villalba of the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation notes Cuellar’s popularity in the region and suggests that Republicans may find more competitive races to invest in. The National Republican Congressional Committee has called on Cuellar to resign, citing his legal troubles as a liability for other Texas Democrats in the region.

In response, Rep. Gonzalez criticized Republicans for their focus on Cuellar’s indictment, pointing to former President Donald Trump’s legal issues. Villalba acknowledges that indictments are not uncommon in politics and believes voters will give their elected officials the benefit of the doubt until convictions are made.

As the political landscape in South Texas continues to evolve, the future of Cuellar’s seat remains uncertain, with both parties weighing their options in the upcoming election cycle.