Henry Cuellar

Henry Cuellar
Official portrait, 2017
Henry Cuellar
Born	Enrique Roberto Cuellar 19 9, 1955
Birthplace	Laredo, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Title	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 28th congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 28th congressional district
Education	Georgetown University (BS) University of Texas at Austin (JD, PhD) Texas A&M International University (MA) Naval War College (MS)
Spouse(s)	Imelda Cuellar
Children	2

Enrique Roberto "Henry" Cuellar (born September 19, 1955) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 28th congressional district since 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, Cuellar represents a sprawling South Texas district that extends from the Rio Grande toward the suburbs of San Antonio. Born and raised in Laredo, Texas, Cuellar built a lengthy career in Texas politics before entering Congress, serving 14 years in the Texas House of Representatives from 1987 to 2001 and briefly serving as the Secretary of State of Texas in 2001 under Governor Rick Perry. That appointment made him, as of 2025, the most recent Democrat to have held a statewide office in Texas. Considered one of the most conservative members of the House Democratic caucus, Cuellar has carved out a reputation as a centrist who has at times broken with his party on issues including immigration and gun rights. His congressional tenure has been marked by comfortable general election victories alongside a series of competitive Democratic primary challenges. In May 2024, a federal grand jury in Houston indicted Cuellar on charges of money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy related to alleged payments from the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican commercial bank. He was pardoned by President Donald Trump in December 2025 before the case went to trial.

Early Life

Henry Cuellar was born on September 19, 1955, in Laredo, Texas, a border city situated along the Rio Grande in Webb County. He was born into a Mexican-American family with deep roots in the South Texas border region. His father, Martin Siller Cuellar Sr., and his mother, Odilia P. Cuellar, raised their family in Laredo. Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic community along the United States–Mexico border shaped Cuellar's later political focus on trade, border security, and immigration policy. Laredo's economy has long been closely tied to cross-border commerce, and the city has historically ranked as one of the nation's busiest commercial ports of entry — issues that would become central to Cuellar's political career.

The Cuellar family was politically active, and Henry was not the only member of the family to enter public life. His involvement in Democratic politics in Webb County began at a relatively young age, and his familiarity with the border region's unique economic and cultural dynamics provided the foundation for a career in public service that would span more than three decades.

Education

Cuellar pursued an extensive and varied academic career that spanned multiple institutions and disciplines. He began his higher education at Laredo College (then Laredo Junior College), where he earned an associate's degree. He subsequently attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Cuellar then returned to Texas for his graduate and professional education, attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned both a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). He also obtained a Master of Arts degree from Texas A&M International University in Laredo and a Master of Science degree in strategic studies from the Naval War College. This accumulation of academic credentials — encompassing law, public policy, international relations, and strategic studies — was unusual among members of Congress and reflected Cuellar's long-standing engagement with policy and governance.

Career

Texas House of Representatives (1987–2001)

Cuellar began his career in elected office in 1987, when he took a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 43rd district. He succeeded W. N. Hall in the position. Following redistricting, Cuellar represented the 42nd district from 1993 until the end of his tenure in 2001. During his 14 years in the state legislature, Cuellar focused on issues relevant to his South Texas constituency, including education, border trade, and economic development. His tenure in the Texas House established him as a pragmatic legislator willing to work across party lines, a characteristic that would define his later career in Congress.

Cuellar served through a consequential period in Texas politics, as the state underwent significant demographic and political shifts during the late 1980s and 1990s. He was succeeded in the Texas House by Richard Raymond upon his departure in 2001.

Texas Secretary of State (2001)

On January 2, 2001, Cuellar was appointed as the 102nd Secretary of State of Texas by Governor Rick Perry, a Republican who had recently ascended to the governorship following George W. Bush's election as president. The appointment of a Democrat by a Republican governor was notable and reflected Cuellar's cross-party relationships. As Secretary of State, Cuellar served as the state's chief elections officer, responsible for overseeing election administration and business filings across Texas.

Cuellar's tenure as Secretary of State was brief, lasting until October 5, 2001. He was succeeded by Geoff Connor in an acting capacity. The appointment nonetheless held historical significance: as of 2025, Cuellar remains the most recent Democrat to have served in a statewide office in Texas, a fact that reflects the Republican Party's dominance of statewide elections in the state over the subsequent two decades.

U.S. House of Representatives

2004 Election

After his service as Secretary of State, Cuellar set his sights on the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2004, he challenged the incumbent Democratic congressman Ciro Rodriguez in the primary for Texas's 28th congressional district. Cuellar defeated Rodriguez in what proved to be a closely contested primary race, establishing himself as the Democratic nominee. He went on to win the general election, taking office on January 3, 2005.

Subsequent Elections and Primary Challenges

Since his initial election, Cuellar has been comfortably reelected in every general election in the heavily Democratic-leaning border district. His general election margins have typically been substantial, reflecting the district's Democratic composition. However, Cuellar has faced several competitive Democratic primary challenges from candidates running to his political left, reflecting tensions between the centrist and progressive wings of the national Democratic Party.

The most notable primary challenges came in 2020 and 2022, when progressive candidates mounted significant campaigns against Cuellar, arguing that his conservative positions on issues such as abortion, immigration enforcement, and energy policy made him out of step with the broader Democratic Party. In January 2019, the progressive group Justice Democrats created a fund aimed at supporting a primary challenger to Cuellar, signaling the national progressive movement's interest in the race. Despite these challenges, Cuellar survived each primary contest, drawing on his deep ties to the district and his support among moderate and older voters in the border region.

Heading into the 2026 election cycle, Cuellar faced what was described as scant opposition in the South Texas Democratic primary, though the district was also identified as a potential target for Republican candidates.

Political Positions

Throughout his congressional career, Cuellar has been identified as one of the most conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives. He has distinguished himself from the majority of his party on several key policy areas, particularly immigration and border security, where he has advocated for strong enforcement measures while representing a district directly on the United States–Mexico border.

Cuellar's centrism has made him a figure of both political utility and controversy within the Democratic caucus. His willingness to work with Republican colleagues and, at times, to support positions associated with the opposing party has made him a frequent target of progressive activists while also providing him with a degree of bipartisan credibility. His relationship with both parties was illustrated by his appointment as Secretary of State by a Republican governor and, later, by the presidential pardon he received from Donald Trump.

Legislative Focus: Trade and Border Issues

A defining feature of Cuellar's congressional career has been his focus on international trade and border commerce, issues of particular importance to his district. Laredo has historically been one of the nation's busiest inland commercial ports of entry, handling a significant volume of cross-border trade between the United States and Mexico. Cuellar has been a consistent advocate for policies that support trade flows through Laredo and the broader South Texas region.

In February 2026, Cuellar cited the impact of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration as a factor in Laredo's decline from its long-held ranking as the nation's top commercial port of entry to the number three position. Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down certain tariffs, Cuellar publicly credited the Court for restoring Congress's authority over trade policy.

Immigration Policy

Immigration has been another central issue for Cuellar, given his district's location along the border. While a member of the Democratic Party, Cuellar has at various points broken with the party's mainstream positions on immigration enforcement. In February 2026, Cuellar joined with fellow Texas representatives Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar to press the Department of Homeland Security regarding a proposed ICE facility, demonstrating his continued engagement with immigration policy debates. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries visited Laredo in February 2026 and held a joint press availability with Cuellar, emphasizing that immigration enforcement "should be fair, just and humane."

Federal Indictment and Presidential Pardon

In early May 2024, a federal grand jury in Houston, Texas, returned an indictment against Cuellar on charges of money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy. The indictment alleged that Cuellar had accepted nearly $600,000 in payments from the government of Azerbaijan and a Mexican commercial bank in exchange for using his position to influence U.S. policy. Cuellar's wife, Imelda Cuellar, was also implicated in the case.

The indictment represented a significant legal and political crisis for Cuellar, who maintained his innocence and continued to serve in Congress while the case proceeded. The charges drew national attention and raised questions about foreign influence on U.S. policymaking.

On December 3, 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned both Henry and Imelda Cuellar, ending the multi-year legal proceedings before the case was brought to trial. The pardon of a Democratic congressman by a Republican president was itself unusual and generated significant public interest. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a government ethics watchdog organization, subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking records related to the pardon, stating that Cuellar's "alleged corrupt dealings and any unethical considerations that may have influenced Trump's pardon should be made public."

In July 2025, the House Committee on Ethics released a statement regarding Cuellar, indicating that the committee had undertaken its own review related to the allegations.

Personal Life

Henry Cuellar is married to Imelda Cuellar. The couple has two children. The Cuellar family has resided in the Laredo area, maintaining close ties to the community where Henry was born and raised. Imelda Cuellar was named alongside her husband in the 2024 federal indictment and was also included in the December 2025 presidential pardon issued by President Trump.

Cuellar is a licensed attorney, having earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law. His extensive educational background, which includes degrees from five institutions, reflects a sustained engagement with academic pursuits throughout his career in public service.

Recognition

Cuellar's appointment as Secretary of State of Texas in 2001 represented a significant distinction, making him the last Democrat to serve in a statewide office in Texas as of 2025. His long tenure in both the Texas House of Representatives and the U.S. Congress — spanning more than three decades of continuous service in elected and appointed office — has established him as one of the most prominent political figures from the South Texas border region.

His centrist positioning within the Democratic Party has drawn both praise from those who value bipartisan cooperation and criticism from progressive activists who have argued his positions do not adequately represent Democratic values. The contested primary elections he has faced, particularly in 2020 and 2022, reflected national debates within the Democratic Party about ideological direction and the role of moderate members in the caucus.