RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – Congressman Henry Cuellar says Republicans in South Texas should stop hiding behind negative TV ads and instead tell voters how they will address key issues.
Super PACs like Congressional Leadership Fund have spent millions of dollars on attacks ads on TV, radio, and mail shots. They hope to defeat the three Democrats running for Congress in South Texas – Cuellar, Michelle Vallejo, and U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez.
“I think Republicans need to stop hiding behind negative ads. They need to talk about what their ideas are to improve South Texas and I think if they if they do that, let the people decide on this market of free ideas,” Cuellar told Ron Whitlock Reports.
“But, the national Republicans that are running the campaigns are hiding behind their negative, personal, attack ads. They think that we down here in South Texas do not understand what they’re doing. They don’t understand our community and this negative advertising is going to backfire on them.”
Cuellar, D-Laredo, is up against Republican challenger Cassy Garcia in the Congressional District 28 race. Asked how his campaign is going, Cuellar said: “We’re winning. We’re not taking anything for granted. At the end of the day, we’re gonna win this race. But again, we’re going to work it all the way to 7pm on November 8th.”
Ron Whitlock Reports caught up with Cuellar at two congressional events in Rio Grande City on Wednesday.
Asked if the GOP surge everyone is talking about in South Texas is for real, Cuellar said: “ Well, you know, certainly the Republicans are spending millions of dollars on extremely negative ads against Vicente Gonzalez, Michelle Vallejo and myself. Very negative. You know, I grew up by saying here’s an idea, let’s listen to their idea and then there’s a competition of ideas. But, apparently, their way of campaigning is just negative advertising.”
Asked if he will be the only Congressional Democrat left standing in South Texas come election night, Cuellar said:
“No. No, No. I think Democrats are going to win down here in South Texas. Vicente is working it very hard. Michelle is working it very hard. I am working very hard. You know, we saw what happened after the 2020 election. They (Republicans) felt that since Trump did well in a couple of counties that they can win South Texas. But, I think what we are going to see in South Texas is there will not be a political realignment like they think there’s a political realignment with Hispanics.”
There is a lot anger among Democrats in Texas right now with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. They believe the DCCC has deserted South Texas when it could have been investing millions of dollars into a strong field program to aid their candidates.
Asked if this is fair comment, Cuellar said: “Those are decisions that the DCCC will make. I know I have given money to the DCCC ever since I’ve been a member of Congress. I think think $6 million to $7 million. So, they’re investing back part of the $6 million or $7 million that I have given the party since I’ve been a member of Congress.”
Cuellar added: “I can’t speak for other people. But I can say on my side, from somebody who has invested $6 million to $7 million to the DCCC, they’re providing an investment back in me.”
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