Why Tomorrow’s TX-28 Primary Runoff Matters

“When Biden was a U.S senator, there were 125 pro-life Democrats in the U.S. House and [the Democratic Party] had a robust 292-seat majority,” writes Kristen Day, the executive director of Democrats for Life of America.

The Democratic Party today looks very different. The abortion industry has taken over. Only one pro-life Democrat remains in the House of Representatives: Henry Cuellar of Texas House District 28 (pictured).

Rep. Cuellar faces pro-abortion challenger Jessica Cisneros in a runoff election tomorrow. Cisneros has the backing of abortion industry interest groups EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood. Democrats for Life of America has thrown its weight behind Cisneros, arguing that a pro-abortion nominee cannot win the general election against a pro-life Republican. (The GOP runoff features two anti-abortion women, Cassy Garcia and Sandra Whitten.) National Democratic Party leadership seems to agree; Speaker Pelosi and Majority Whip Clyburn have rejected the usual litmus test and endorsed Rep. Cuellar.

This is not the first time Rep. Cuellar and Cisneros have been on the ballot. In 2020, Rep. Cuellar defeated Cisneros 51.8% to 48.2%. In the May 2022 primary, a third candidate took votes from both: Rep. Cuellar earned 48.4% of the vote to Cisneros’ 46.9%. A runoff is necessary because neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold.

Tomorrow’s vote is one of the first since the draft Dobbs decision leak. Abortion has been front and center in the debate. Whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s race, you can expect pundits to spin it as a definitive signal for the midterms.