Elections

Conservative Groups Are Funding The Last Anti-Abortion House Democrat

(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Michael Ginsberg Congressional Correspondent
Font Size:

Several conservative political action committees have given thousands of dollars to the reelection campaign of Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, the only Democrat to vote against a bill that would legalize abortion nationwide up to birth.

A nine-term incumbent, Cuellar is running against Cassy Garcia, a former aide to Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. He defeated left-wing challenger Jessica Cisneros in a primary and run-off punctuated by dueling endorsements from House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Redistricting moved Texas’ 28th District three points towards the Democratic Party, and forecasters consider the race to “lean Democratic.”

Cuellar raised more than $3.3 million through the first two quarters of 2022, according to Federal Election Commission filings. In addition to primarily Democratic supporters like the Engineers Political Education Committee and Blue Dog PAC, Cuellar received $10,000 each from the American Fuels and Petrochemical Manufacturers Association PAC and Halliburton Company PAC.

Other donors to Cuellar’s campaign include a PAC affiliated with retired Republican Texas Rep. Ted Poe and US Energy PAC.

Cuellar and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin were the only congressional Democrats to vote against the Women’s Health Protection Act, which mandates legalized abortion nationwide through all nine months of a woman’s pregnancy. The legislation would also eliminate most conscience protections for doctors and nurses who oppose abortion.

“As a Catholic, I do not support abortion, however, we cannot have an outright ban,” Cuellar said in May after a leaker released a Supreme Court draft opinion in the Dobbs case. “There must be exceptions in the case of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother.” (RELATED: Manchin Joins Republicans To Doom Far-Left Abortion Bill)

Cuellar is also a staunch critic of the Biden administration’s immigration approach. He has repeatedly pushed back on claims that the border is “secure” and “closed” amid record-breaking encounters with illegal immigrants. Cuellar also blamed attempts to cut funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and “catch and release” policies for the migrant surge.

Cuellar voted with President Donald Trump more than any other House Democrat, and is the ninth-least likely House Democrat to vote with Biden.