Some county GOP officials said the president’s pardon could complicate their plans to unseat the Laredo Democrat in South Texas’ battleground 28th Congressional District.
Marijke Friedman
Marijke Friedman is a Washington, D.C.-based reporting fellow covering the Texas congressional delegation and political developments that affect Texans. Marijke, a senior journalism and politics double major at the University of Maryland, is the news editor of The Diamondback, the campus newspaper. She has also worked for the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, Capital News Service, the USA Today Network's Design Center and Montgomery Community Media. She grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. Read Articles by Marijke Friedman
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Congress
After Trump pardon, Rep. Henry Cuellar restored to homeland security funding post
After his corruption indictment last year, the Laredo Democrat forfeited his role as the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees more than $65 billion in annual spending.
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2026 Texas Elections
Henry Cuellar faces scant opposition in South Texas Democratic primary
Days out from the filing deadline, Cuellar has yet to draw a serious primary challenger — a sign that many in his party view the anti-abortion congressman as their best bet to stave off the GOP in November.
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2026 Texas Elections
Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina launches run for Congress, seeking to flip South Texas district red
National GOP recruiters see Webb County’s top elected official as a promising candidate to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in 2026.
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2026 Texas Elections
Webb County judge disputes allegation that he violated federal law to dodge Texas’ resign-to-run rule
Tano Tijerina, the top elected official in a county that includes Laredo, is expected to seek the GOP nomination in Texas’ 28th Congressional District, long held by Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar.
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Congress
Entire Texas congressional delegation votes to release Epstein files
Rep. Troy Nehls of Richmond was among House Republicans who had previously opposed releasing the files, but reversed their stances this week.
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Congress
Fresh off defeating state THC ban, Texas hemp industry faces wipeout under federal deal to end shutdown
The issue roiled Texas politics earlier this year when Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a ban on THC products spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
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Congress
U.S. House OKs funding deal to reopen government with support from Texas Republicans
The spending package includes a provision that will criminalize the sale of almost all consumable hemp products nationwide, restoring a similar ban to the one vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
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Politics
George W. Bush calls Dick Cheney’s death a “loss to the nation”
Cheney, who was Bush’s vice president, died Monday at 84.
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2026 Texas Elections
State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt announces run for Michael McCaul’s seat in Congress
The Austin Democrat will face an uphill battle in the GOP-leaning district. McCaul announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection.