Former Texas Rep. Mayra Flores announces campaign for Cuellar's seat

Daniela Altimari, CQ-Roll Call on Apr 15, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Republican former Rep. Mayra Flores, who last year narrowly lost a second bid to reclaim a South Texas seat, announced Tuesday that she’s running again, though from a different district.

Later in the afternoon, however, her campaign disclosed that Flores had been hospitalized, without providing any additional details.

“During this challenging time, we humbly ask for your prayers and support. We pray that Mayra will return stronger than ever, ready to continue her unwavering commitment to serving our country,’’ the social media post read.

Flores has lost two elections to Democrat Vicente Gonzalez in Texas’ 34th District along the Gulf Coast. But this time she’s seeking a different seat, taking on Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in the 28th District, which stretches from parts of San Antonio to a swath of the southern border with Mexico.

Cuellar, along with his wife, was indicted last year for two schemes involving unlawful foreign influence, bribery and money laundering. He has maintained his innocence and is awaiting a criminal trial.

“This campaign is driven by a love for our country and a commitment to fight for justice, opportunity, and unity for all,’’ Flores said on social media earlier Tuesday.

The daughter of migrant workers, Flores became the first woman born in Mexico to serve in Congress when she won a special election in 2022, flipping a seat left vacant by the resignation of Democrat Filemon Vela.

But less than five months later and under redrawn district lines, Flores lost reelection to Gonzalez by 9 points. She again lost to Gonzales in the heavily Hispanic district last fall but cut into his margins, losing by less than 3 points.

Flores told Fox News Digital in an interview before her announcement that she was running to help House Republicans expand their razor-thin majority and make it easier to push through President Donald Trump’s agenda.

“Right now we need a much bigger majority. It makes it very difficult for President Trump to get anything across with such a small majority,” she said.

Cuellar, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, is among the more conservative Democrats in the chamber, having cultivated a moderate profile since he was first elected in 2004. Despite his indictment, he won reelection last fall by 6 points as the district, like many parts of South Texas, swung rightward – Trump carried the seat by 7 points, according to calculations by elections analyst Drew Savicki.

Flores will likely have company in the Republican primary, with Navy veteran and 2024 nominee Jay Furman entering the race earlier this month. Tano Tijerina, the top executive of Webb County who left the Democratic Party last year, is also weighing a bid and has met with Republican leaders in Washington.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has included Cuellar on its initial list of 26 House Democrats it will target in 2026. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Leans Democratic.