Retired Navy officer Furman wins GOP primary to challenge indicted Texas Democrat
In a highly anticipated Republican runoff primary race, Jay Furman emerged victorious over Lazaro Garza to secure a spot against Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar in the upcoming election. This crucial victory comes after Cuellar was indicted by the federal government on conspiracy and bribery charges earlier this month.
The GOP runoff primary for the 28th Congressional District was officially called on Tuesday night for the winner, Jay Furman, shortly after 8 p.m. local time. The competition between Furman, a retired Navy officer, and rancher Lazaro Garza has captured the attention of many as it will play a significant role in shaping the future of Cuellar.
The ongoing investigation is linked to $600,000 in bribes that Cuellar and his wife allegedly accepted between 2014 and 2021 from an Azerbaijan-based energy company and a bank in Mexico City. The funds were purportedly used to advance the interests of the former Soviet republic in the United States.
Cuellar and his wife have vehemently denied any wrongdoing in connection to the bribery allegations. However, the indictment has put a spotlight on Cuellar’s political stances that often align more closely with Republican viewpoints than Democratic ones.
It is worth noting that Cuellar has been a vocal opponent of abortion and has taken a conservative stance on immigration, which has sometimes clashed with the Democratic Party’s platform. He has been recognized as the last openly pro-life Democrat in Congress and has not shied away from criticizing the handling of the crisis at the southern border.
“If they’re looking at the same polls I’ve been looking at, the American public doesn’t like what’s happening,” Cuellar remarked earlier this year regarding fellow Democrats’ stance on immigration. He emphasized that his district, with a significant Hispanic population, views immigration as a critical issue according to polling data.
In the Texas Republican primary runoff, four candidates vied for the nomination in March, but none managed to surpass the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff. Furman emerged as the frontrunner with 44.8% of the vote, followed by Garza with 27.1%, and candidates Jose Sanz and Jimmy Leon with 20.5% and 7.5%, respectively.
Cuellar, on the other hand, won his primary uncontested after narrowly defeating his primary challenger in the previous election cycle. Despite the indictment and ongoing legal proceedings, the Cook Political Report has labeled the November race as “Lean Democrat.”
The outcome of the upcoming election will not only determine the representative for the 28th Congressional District but also underscore the prevailing political dynamics and priorities within the region. As the spotlight remains on Cuellar, the Republican challenger, Jay Furman, gears up for a heated battle to secure a seat in Congress.
