Henry Cuellar

Democrat Representative of Texas's 28th district

  • Representative

    Texas, district 28

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025

10

Congresses Served

10

House Terms

September 19, 1955 (69 years old)

Birthday

  • Served as a U.S. representative since 2005
  • Previously served in the Texas House of Representatives for 14 years and briefly as Texas Secretary of State in 2001
  • Known as a centrist within the House Democratic Caucus
  • Has been reelected comfortably in every general election, facing competitive primary races
  • Indicted on charges including money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy in 2024
  • Born and raised in Laredo, Texas, to Mexican American parents
  • Holds multiple degrees, including a PhD and a JD, and was finishing a master’s in defense and strategic studies as of 2023
  • Opened his own law firm in 1981 and became a licensed customs broker in 1983
  • Issued an opinion against ranked-choice voting in Texas as Secretary of State
  • Describes himself as a “moderate-centrist” or conservative Democrat
  • Voted in line with Joe Biden’s stated position 96% of the time as of August 2023
  • Authored legislation to honor slain ICE agent Jaime Zapata and increase border security cooperation
  • Opposes abortion and was the only Democrat to vote against the Women’s Health Protection Act in 2021
  • Played a key role in passing the bipartisan infrastructure deal in 2021
  • Supported the return of earmarks to Congress and has been one of the top earmarkers
  • Voted against the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in 2020
  • Supports US support for Ukraine and has advocated for crippling Iran’s access to technology to prevent aiding Russia’s war efforts
  • Leading proponent for expanding passenger rail from San Antonio to Monterrey, Mexico
  • Voted in favor of both articles of impeachment against Donald Trump
  • Under FBI investigation related to Azerbaijan and indicted on related charges in 2024
  • Personal life includes being one of eight children, married with two daughters, and experiencing a carjacking incident in 2023