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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Trump "fighting" Texas Democrat over his seat in Congress after pardoning him

Cuellar is running for re-election after Trump pardoned him and then backed a Republican challenger.

Trump "fighting" Texas Democrat over his seat in Congress after pardoning him
Image · Newsweek

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Outlet credibilityNewsweek75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 11, 2026
Newsweek
Jan 6, 2026
tl;dr

Donald Trump said he is backing Republican Tano Tijerina against Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar, whom Trump recently pardoned. Cuellar’s office thanked Trump for the pardon while saying Cuellar would continue his re-election campaign.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Henry Cuellar D · TX-28
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Cuellar in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Cuellar’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Henry Cuellar
D · TX-28

Texas representative seeking re-election and the target of Trump’s criticism

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who pardoned Cuellar and endorsed his Republican challenger

Trump's version of this story ↗

Republican candidate endorsed by Trump in the Texas 28th Congressional District race

Part of a bigger story

5 OUTLETS
Trump Endorses Tano Tijerina Against Henry Cuellar

Outlets agree that Trump pardoned Henry Cuellar and later endorsed Republican Tano Tijerina against him as Cuellar sought reelection. Left-leaning outlets frame Trump's criticism as a hostile response to Cuellar continuing his reelection bid after the pardon. Center outlets report the endorsement alongside Cuellar's continued campaign and his response that he made no deal for the pardon. Right-leaning outlets focus on Trump's rationale for backing Tijerina and, in Fox News's account, do not include a response from Cuellar.

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