Representative Henry Cuellar, Democratic from Texas

Henry Cuellar

Texas's 28th congressional district

TX-28 Midterms Intelligence

Cuellar’s 28th is a classic South Texas border seat: heavily Hispanic (75%), young, working-class, and culturally moderate, with the incumbent surviving by fitting the district better than the national party. After 21 years, he remains a durable Democratic brand, but the district is no longer safely blue—Democrats took just 52.8% here, and the seat has moved sharply right, with an R shift of +8. Immigration and border management are not abstract issues here; they are the organizing fact of district politics, shaping how voters hear everything from trade to public safety to federal competence.

For advocates, this is a persuasion district, not a base-mobilization play. Economic stress is real—15.8% poverty and 21.4% uninsured—so messages should tie policy to cost, access, and local stability, not ideological purity. The sweet spot is pragmatic: border security plus legal pathways, infrastructure tied to commerce, and workforce or health investments framed as helping families who work. Nationalized partisan messaging will underperform; validators from local business, health, law enforcement, and community networks matter more than party cues.

Representative Henry Cuellar represents Texas's 28th congressional district, serving 789,743 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $65,728 and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

789,743Population
↑ 25,621
$65,728Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $4,804
6.1%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↓ 0.1%
15.8%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↓ 0.5%
68.3%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$1,132Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $97
1.0%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
25.5 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↓ 0.1 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

Texas District 28 Demographics

Median Age 33.7 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 68.3% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 21.2% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 15.8% (vs 12.4%) · Income $65,728 (vs $37,585)

Key Issues for This District
Economic inequalityImmigration policyEducation accessHealthcare accessFood security

Age Distribution

Skews younger than the national average (median age 33.7 vs 38.5 nationally). The largest age cohort is 10–19 at 16.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

A majority-minority district. Hispanic residents are the largest group at 75%. Also significant: White (35.5%).

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

Only 21.2% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, significantly below the 33.7% national average. 22% of residents lack a high school diploma.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $65,728, well above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

Homeownership at 68.3% (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $1,132. Median home value is $201,800.

How People Get to Work

Car-dependent: 74.4% drive alone to work. Average commute is 25.5 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.

Texas District 28 FAQ

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