LAREDO, TX – After over 10 years of public service, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina announced today that he is forming an exploratory committee to consider a potential run for Texas’s 28th Congressional District.
“For decades, South Texas has gotten little in return for its loyalty to the Democratic Party. As home to the biggest inland port in the nation, District 28 is twenty years behind our neighbors because we have not had a forward-thinking advocate that honors the people, the culture, and prioritizes the needs for all, not just for a few.”
Tijerina, a three-term County Judge, former professional athlete, rancher, and businessman, said the decision follows months of encouragement and feedback from community leaders, families, and small business owners across the district who are tired of politics getting in the way of getting things done.
“I have been honored to serve Webb County, and along the way fulfilled my first campaign promise, to change the face of government. I’ve spent the last decade focusing on what working families and business owners care about: cutting taxes, expanding infrastructure, advocating for trade and local economic development, while improving the quality of life for all citizens. I’ve worked alongside our Commissioners Court to move Webb County forward, proving that when you focus on results, politics takes a back seat.”
Despite the challenges, Tijerina says he’s seen firsthand what local leaders can achieve when they roll up their sleeves and put people over politics, because Washington hasn’t done its part. “Congressman Cuellar is more focused on protecting himself than protecting this district,” he said. “Despite representing our district for over 20 years, he’s failed to pass meaningful immigration reform. While parents demanded fairness, he voted to support boys competing in girls’ sports. And while our communities fight for federal resources, he’s been too preoccupied with his trial for taking nearly $600,000 from two foreign nations. South Texas deserves more than an out-of-touch Congressman who is only interested in serving himself; we deserve leadership that delivers.”
“I’m exploring this next step because I am tired of leading from behind and expecting the needs of South Texans to be met. The only wins we’ve had are the ones local leaders have fought tooth and nail for. Imagine what South Texas could accomplish with a partner in Washington who steps up for them. We deserve more. It will not be easy, but I’ve never been afraid to step out of the crowd and break the mold of what a South Texas elected official should be. I’ve said it before: it’s not about the red, it’s not about the blue, it’s about the red, white, and blue. We are Americans first. I’ve proven I work for the taxpayers, both the ones that voted for me and the ones that did not.”
“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished locally, but I also know we can only improve and grow from here with a strong voice in Washington,” he added. “This is a time for serious reflection, thoughtful conversations, and listening to the people of TX-28. I look forward to that process in the weeks ahead.”