{"id":2462896,"date":"2025-07-17T10:31:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-target-south-texas-house-seat-with-challenge-to-rep-monica-de-la-cruz-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T10:31:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:31:34","slug":"democrats-target-south-texas-house-seat-with-challenge-to-rep-monica-de-la-cruz-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-target-south-texas-house-seat-with-challenge-to-rep-monica-de-la-cruz-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats target South Texas House seat with challenge to Rep. Monica De La Cruz &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-target-south-texas-house-seat-with-challenge-to-rep-monica-de-la-cruz-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2462896&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rep.Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) is facing a Democratic challenge in South Texas as Ada Cuellar, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-takes-heat-for-killing-trumps-opioid-treatment-prescription-plan-praised-by-doctors\/\" title=\"Biden Takes Heat For Killing Trump\u2019s Opioid-Treatment Prescription Plan Praised By Doctors\">emergency physician<\/a> from Harlingen, has launched a campaign to contest De La cruz&#8217;s seat in Texas&#8217;s 15th Congressional District. This district, located in Hidalgo County within the Rio Grande Valley, has traditionally been a Democratic stronghold but has shifted toward the Republican Party in recent years, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >notably flipping red<\/a> in the 2024 election following strong support for Donald Trump. De La Cruz won reelection in 2024 by a 14-point margin, but Democrats see the seat as competitive for the 2026 midterms, partly due to potential redistricting that may favor their chances. Despite this optimism, Cuellar faces challenges appealing to centrist voters in a district that has recently trended Republican. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has identified this district as a key target for flipping in 2026, reflecting their bullish outlook despite the current Republican hold.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democrats target South Texas House seat with challenge to Rep. Monica De La Cruz<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2171315\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) is facing a challenge from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">House<\/a> candidate Ada Cuellar as the Democratic Party seeks to flip her South <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Texas<\/a> district blue.<\/p>\n<p>Cuellar, a Harlingen-based emergency physician, on Thursday became the first Democrat to launch a campaign seeking to oust De La Cruz from her seat representing the state&rsquo;s 15th Congressional District, which lies in Hidalgo, one of the most populous counties in the Rio Grande Valley.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3473971\/david-hogg-vindicated-four-years-dnc-mamdani\/\">Hogg confident he&#8217;ll be &#8216;vindicated in four years&#8217; after DNC ouster<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3473647\/no-energy-cuomo-does-not-have-a-case-to-stay-in-nyc-race-joe-concha\/\">&#8216;No energy&#8217; Cuomo does not have a case to stay in NYC race: Joe Concha<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3473265\/globalize-the-intifada-what-to-know-zohran-mamdani\/\">&#8216;Globalize the intifada&#8217;: What to know about the phrase Mamdani won&#8217;t condemn<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>De La Cruz, first elected in 2022, represents a majority-Hispanic district that has seen critical shifts to the Right in recent years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While the congresswoman won reelection by 14 points in 2024, Democrats believe the seat is competitive ahead of the 2026 midterm election, due to her margin of victory being smaller than that of other Texas House Republicans. Democrats also share hopes that ongoing <a href=\"https:\/\/prospect.org\/politics\/2025-07-16-texas-redistricting-maneuver-may-harm-republicans\/#:~:text=The%20first%20order%20of%20business,would%20be%20far%20more%20vulnerable.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">redistricting efforts<\/a> could redraw boundary lines in their favor, negatively impacting De La Cruz&rsquo;s voting pool. After Democrats suffered disastrous results in South Texas during the 2024 election, De La Cruz&rsquo;s district was the only Texas seat included on the initial list of 2026 targets unveiled in April by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Still, Cuellar faces an uphill battle, due to Hidalgo&rsquo;s stark pivot toward the Republican Party in recent years. While it has been a Democratic stronghold for generations, President Donald Trump flipped the county red during the 2024 election after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2262783\/trump-flipped-five-overwhelmingly-hispanic-border-counties-despite-bipartisan-claims-his-rhetoric-would-alienate-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">making major inroads<\/a> in the mostly Hispanic area during the 2020 election.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite the Hispanic community&rsquo;s embrace of Trump, Cuellar has <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/adacuellar.bsky.social\/post\/3ltrnnxrtks2e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">been slow<\/a> to offer up bipartisan overtures, a move that could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kamala-harris-selects-minn-gov-tim-walz-as-2024-running-mate\/\" title=\"Kamala Harris Selects Minn. Gov. Tim Walz As 2024 Running Mate\">alienate centrist voters<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3471422\/mike-rogers-raises-million-bid-michigan-senate-seat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GOP&rsquo;S MIKE ROGERS LAGS CHALLENGERS IN BID TO FLIP MICHIGAN SENATE SEAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&Aacute;lvaro Corral, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumlocalnews.com\/tx\/south-texas-el-paso\/news\/2025\/04\/16\/dccc-2026-targets-texas-monica-de-la-cruz#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20South%20Texas%20is%20again,an%20interview%20on%20Election%20Day.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> <em>Spectrum Local News <\/em>in April that he was somewhat surprised to hear Democrats are targeting De La Cruz&rsquo;s seat, given the margin of victory in her reelection.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That probably just means that Democrats are looking to be pretty bullish for 2026 and trying their best to sort of target at least some sort of seat that they can nab back from Republicans, and they&rsquo;ve identified Monica de la Cruz&rsquo;s seat,&rdquo; the professor said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2171315\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2171315\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats challenge Rep. De La Cruz for South Texas seat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2462897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/monica.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3685,38087,59313],"class_list":["post-2462896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrats","tag-house-seat","tag-south-texas"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/monica.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2462896"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462896\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2462900,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462896\/revisions\/2462900"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2462897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2462896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2462896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2462896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}