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jessica cisneros
Entire House Democratic Leadership Backs Anti-Choice Cuellar in 2024 Run
"It's galling to see leadership muster behind Cuellar, of all people at all times," said one advocate.
Aug 03, 2023
With well over a year before the 2024 election, and as a pro-choice immigration rights attorney is reportedly weighing a primary run, all four of the top Democratic leaders in the U.S. House on Thursday announced their support for anti-abortion rights Rep. Henry Cuellar in his reelection bid.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), and Assistant Democratic Leader Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.) all announced their endorsements of the right-wing Democrat, who has represented Texas' 28th district since 2005.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) also voiced their support for Cuellar, who in addition to being the only anti-abortion rights Democrat in the House, has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association indicating his anti-gun control views.
Wondering why the influential top Democrats are focusing on Cuellar's district at this point, advocate and political strategist Jen Bluestein called the leaders' move "galling" considering the ongoing Republican attacks on abortion rights across the country.
"If Cuellar's seen the light on women's freedom, he should say so," said Bluestein. "Loud enough for Texas women to hear."
The Texas Tribune noted that Jessica Cisneros, a staunchly pro-choice progressive who came within 300 votes of Cuellar in the 2022 House primary and also challenged him in 2020, has not ruled out another primary run next year.
Last year's primary runoff between the two candidates came shortly after a draft opinion was leaked from the U.S. Supreme Court, indicating that the right-wing majority would soon overturn Roe v. Wade, as it did in June 2022.
Clyburn angered abortion rights advocates by stumping for Cuellar two days after the leak, telling reporters that as a "big-tent party," Democrats should welcome the congressman despite his views running counter to the party's agenda. He denounced progressives' objection to the Democrats' support for Cuellar as "sophomoric."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was among the progressives who strongly supported Cisneros last year, said at the time that in the "extremely close race," Democratic leaders' decision to back Cuellar would "be the reason why" he won.
On Thursday, writer and Ventura County, California political candidate Heather Christena Schmidt tweeted that the Democrats' endorsement of Cuellar runs counter to the party's claim that it will fight for reproductive rights.
Politics1.com tweeted that the Democrats' announcement was "clearly designed to head off a third consecutive tough primary challenge from the left" before one is even announced.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Md.) also voiced their support for Cuellar, who in addition to being the only anti-abortion rights Democrat in the House, has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association indicating his anti-gun control views.
Wondering why the influential top Democrats are focusing on Cuellar's district at this point, advocate and political strategist Jen Bluestein called the leaders' move "galling" considering the ongoing Republican attacks on abortion rights across the country.
"If Cuellar's seen the light on women's freedom, he should say so," said Bluestein. "Loud enough for Texas women to hear."
The Texas Tribune noted that Jessica Cisneros, a staunchly pro-choice progressive who came within 300 votes of Cuellar in the 2022 House primary and also challenged him in 2020, has not ruled out another primary run next year.
Last year's primary runoff between the two candidates came shortly after a draft opinion was leaked from the U.S. Supreme Court, indicating that the right-wing majority would soon overturn Roe v. Wade, as it did in June 2022.
Clyburn angered abortion rights advocates by stumping for Cuellar two days after the leak, telling reporters that as a "big-tent party," Democrats should welcome the congressman despite his views running counter to the party's agenda. He denounced progressives' objection to the Democrats' support for Cuellar as "sophomoric."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who was among the progressives who strongly supported Cisneros last year, said at the time that in the "extremely close race," Democratic leaders' decision to back Cuellar would "be the reason why" he won.
On Thursday, writer and Ventura County, California political candidate Heather Christena Schmidt tweeted that the Democrats' endorsement of Cuellar runs counter to the party's claim that it will fight for reproductive rights.
Politics1.com tweeted that the Democrats' announcement was "clearly designed to head off a third consecutive tough primary challenge from the left" before one is even announced.
'Our Community Isn't Done Fighting': Cisneros Calls for Recount in Texas
"With just under 0.6% of the vote symbolizing such stark differences for the future in South Texas, I owe it to our community to see this through to the end," said the progressive.
Jun 06, 2022
Though Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar has already twice declared victory in Texas' 28th District, progressive primary challenger Jessica Cisneros announced Monday that she plans to formally request a recount for the May 24 runoff election.
"Our movement was never just about the one politician--it was about taking on an unjust system."
The race has long garnered national attention given how close Cisneros came to ousting Cuellar in 2020 and especially in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion suggesting the imminent reversal of Roe v. Wade, considering that he was the only House Democrat to vote against federal legislation to affirm abortion rights last year.
After the Texas Democratic Party officially canvassed the election results, Cuellar's lead rose to 281 votes over the immigration and human rights attorney, and he said that "she has no path to victory."
However, Cisneros made clear Monday that she is not conceding to the "17-year, corporate-backed, anti-choice incumbent."
"Our movement was never just about the one politician--it was about taking on an unjust system that rewards corruption and corporate profits at the expense of the needs of working people," Cisneros said.
"Our community isn't done fighting, we are filing for a recount," she declared. "With just under 0.6% of the vote symbolizing such stark differences for the future in South Texas, I owe it to our community to see this through to the end."
Supporters of Cisneros' second run include various progressive advocacy organizations and political figures, such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) along with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.).
Welcoming the development, Indivisible co-executive director Leah Greenberg said that "with our hearts still heavy as we mourn with the 21 families in Uvalde, we are more committed than ever to fighting, even when the odds are stacked against us. Fighting for compassion, for reason, for responsive leaders that keep all families safe. Jessica Cisneros is the embodiment of that spirit, and we are with her 100% in this last leg of her campaign."
"Once again, Jessica Cisneros's underdog campaign and the local activists who've supported it have brought one of corporate America's favorite Democrats to within a couple hundred votes. This is an incredible feat," she continued. "Jessica's fiercely voter-focused campaign sent the corporate Democratic machine into a frenzy. In the face of one of the nastiest, best-funded smear efforts this year, Jessica has held her head high, and been a model of compassionate, effective leadership."
"This race is not over. There are still hundreds of ballots to be tallied. It has not been called by any news organization because it's too close to call. The only person declaring this race over is Henry Cuellar, but we know that every last eligible vote needs to be counted first," Greenberg added. "Democrats need more leaders like Jessica Cisneros to help deliver true safety and security for all families. We want Jessica on the ballot in November in TX-28, and so should all Democrats."
This post has been updated with comment from Indivisible.
'This Fight Isn't Over,' Says Cisneros as Cuellar Declares Victory in Razor-Close Primary
"This election is still too close to call, and we are still waiting for every ballot and eligible vote to be counted," said progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros.
May 25, 2022
Clinging to a lead of fewer than 180 votes, nine-term Rep. Henry Cuellar declared victory early Wednesday in the closely watched Democratic primary runoff for Texas' 28th Congressional District as Jessica Cisneros, his progressive challenger, said the contest remained too close to officially call.
Cuellar, an anti-abortion Democrat with ties to the fossil fuel industry, currently leads Cisneros by a reported margin of 22,694 votes to 22,517, less than a percentage point.
"The votes are in, the margin will hold. We have won by 177 votes," the incumbent's campaign tweeted, an assessment that leading election analyst Dave Wasserman tentatively echoed.
But Cisneros, a human rights attorney backed by prominent progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups, wrote in the early hours of Wednesday morning that "this election is still too close to call, and we are still waiting for every ballot and eligible vote to be counted."
"Thank you to every single voter that came out to support our campaign," wrote Cisneros. "This fight isn't over."
Despite his right-wing policy positions and voting record on climate, abortion, immigration, and gun control--he has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association--Cuellar enjoyed the unwavering support of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), the top three Democrats in the U.S. House.
Pelosi, who helped push Cuellar over the finish line in his first contest against Cisneros two years ago, recorded a robocall for the 2022 primary describing the Texas incumbent as "a fighter for hard-working families"--even as he opposes House Democrats' flagship labor rights bill and a $15 federal minimum wage.
Cuellar specifically expressed gratitude to Clyburn, who campaigned for the right-wing Democrat in the final stretch of the runoff race, which saw billionaire-funded super PACs such as AIPAC's United Democracy Project spend heavily against Cisneros. Cuellar's fossil fuel industry allies also pumped money into the race.
"This primary was a hard-fought battle and I'd like to thank my supporters, who were instrumental in this victory," said Cuellar, who will face Republican Cassie Garcia if his lead holds. "And of course, I could not do this without the tireless support of my wife and daughters. I also want to thank Whip Clyburn for his steadfast support."
Earlier this month, following the leak of a draft opinion indicating that the U.S. Supreme Court is set to overturn Roe v. Wade, Cisneros called on Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn to drop their support for Cuellar, who has been described as one of the last remaining anti-abortion Democrats in Congress. The Democratic leaders refused to do so despite publicly touting the importance of electing pro-choice lawmakers.
Cuellar's position on gun control also came under renewed scrutiny following the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday.
Cuellar has previously refused to return NRA donations in the wake of mass shootings.
"If Cuellar pulls this out," The American Prospect's Alex Sammon wrote sardonically, "national Democrats can be proud that their exceptional efforts and first action in the wake of this shooting in Uvalde that has killed at least 19 children will be to send a politician from the region with an 'A' rating from the NRA back to Congress."
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