Cuellar, a nine-term lawmaker, defeated Cisneros by 289 votes, according to the results of the recount announced by the Democratic Party of Texas. The Associated Press had not previously declared a winner in the race because it was too close to call. This is the second time that Cisneros, a 29-year-old immigration lawyer who once closed for Cuellar, has lost a challenge to her former boss, whose mediocre history on the southern Texas border has occasionally aligned him with Republicans on issues including abortions and weapons. This time Cisneros came even closer to 2020, when it lost 4 percentage points behind national support from the party’s progressive leaders, including Vermont Senators Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren. They backed her in the rematch along with abortion rights teams that entered the race as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled she could overturn Roe vs. Wade. “With this margin of difference, it is clear that without their aggressive intervention in the lives of South Texas families, we would have won,” Cisneros said. “The biggest thing that prevents us from pursuing the change we deserve is their fear. Fear of change, fear of the future. “But the only way to overcome fear is with courage and determination that in the richest nation in the world, we all deserve to thrive.” Cuellar is one of the last Democrats against abortion in Congress and has also denounced the party for years for its support of gun rights and a tougher stance on immigration. However, he retained the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership. “To those who did not vote for me, as your MP, I will continue to work diligently for you in Washington,” Cuela said. “While we may differ in some areas, we share a common ground on many issues to improve our communities and strengthen families.” Cuellar will face Republican Cassy Garcia in November in a Democratic-backed county, but the GOP has growing confidence in South Texas, a longtime Democrat stronghold, after Republican Mayra Flores won a landslide victory in the Republican primary. on Tuesday.
