A former employee of a Democratic congressman is expressing discontent with the situation of illegal immigration at the southern border and is rebelling against him. Representative Henry Cuellar, known for his relatively strict stance within the Democratic Party regarding migration, is now being challenged by his former press secretary. Interestingly, this former staffer has switched party affiliations to become a Republican for this challenge.
Jose Sanz exemplifies a compelling immigration success narrative. Originally from Mexico City, he arrived in the United States at the age of nine, where he spent his formative years in Houston, Texas. Following a career as a sports analyst with ESPN, he transitioned to the role of press secretary and district manager for Representative Cuellar. Sanz serves as a prime illustration of how immigrants can thrive in this country and make meaningful contributions. Nonetheless, he shares a growing frustration with the issue of illegal immigration and the perceived lack of action within the Democratic Party.
Jose Sanz, who worked for two years as the press secretary and later district director for Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, is running for his former boss' seat.
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 29, 2023
Sanz is running as a Republican, saying he realized his values didn’t align with Cuellar's. https://t.co/w0zMf7vOjG
On September 27th, Sanz officially declared his candidacy, signaling his intent to challenge Cuellar for the representative position in Texas’s 28th Congressional District, this time as a Republican candidate. He pledged to provide a resolute conservative perspective if elected and emphasized the urgent need for unity among South Texans to curtail the influx of illegal immigrants, dangerous narcotics, and weapons crossing the border from Mexico.
Sanz underscored that the 28th district leans conservative and stressed the importance of having a Congressman who will safeguard their family values and preserve their way of life.
Cuellar appears to be relatively unfazed by the competition at this point. Notably, Cuellar has also addressed the border concern in recent times. On September 24, in an interview with Fox News, he advocated for imposing consequences at the border to dissuade illegal crossings and urged Mexico to repatriate migrants within its borders back to their home countries.
Interestingly, it’s challenging to discern how Sanz could adopt a more stringent stance on border-related issues than Cuellar has, but the upcoming election will provide him with the platform to outline his position and intentions.
