TEXAS DEMOCRAT SCANDAL: GOP SEIZES OPPORTUNITY!

The grainy CCTV footage from the Webb County election office showed something deeply unsettling: official ballots, blank but legitimate, being shredded. This wasn't a glitch, nor an isolated incident. It was a stark visual representation of a system under strain, a system where the rules seemed…flexible.

South Texas has long been a region defined by powerful political forces, a legacy stretching back to the days of Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson’s rise wasn’t built on ideals alone, but on carefully cultivated relationships with local political bosses, strategic use of federal resources, and a masterful mobilization of Mexican American voters. It was a system of control, where county officials often wielded power far beyond simple administration.

That era was personified by figures like George B. Parr, the Duval County boss who essentially delivered Johnson’s early victories. Parr demonstrated how control at the county level could ripple outwards, shaping statewide outcomes. The echoes of that model still resonate today, particularly when election disputes arise, revealing a deeply ingrained institutional culture.

The foundation of any fair election isn’t simply about what happens at the polls; it begins long before. It unravels when those entrusted with upholding election law treat its requirements as suggestions, not mandates. Once that line is crossed, the legal framework designed to protect transparency and the very principles of a republic begins to crumble.

The 28th Congressional District of Texas, a strategically vital area bordering Mexico – handling 45% of U.S.-Mexico trade and over 260 miles of the border – recently experienced a dramatic political shift. Despite redistricting intended to favor Democrats, the district swung heavily towards Donald Trump in 2024, a fourteen-point move in just four years, fueled by growing dissatisfaction with border policies.

Yet, amidst this Republican surge, incumbent Democrat Henry Cuellar narrowly defeated his Republican challenger, Jay Furman, by a mere five points. Such a divergence – a twelve-point gap between the presidential race and a congressional contest – is statistically unusual, raising immediate questions. While voters are free to split their tickets, it’s a rarity in modern federal elections.

Furman, rightfully concerned, sought to inspect the ballots, a right guaranteed by Texas law. But what followed wasn’t a transparent, supervised process. Instead, he faced a series of obstacles: demands to personally copy each ballot, denial of access to equipment capable of handling the format, and a process that transformed a legal right into an improvised, obstructed ordeal.

The chain of custody, the critical process of tracking ballots to ensure their integrity, was compromised. The Early Vote tally box vanished before official recording, reappearing an hour later with assurances – unsupported by documentation – that its contents remained untouched. A broken chain of custody means ballots could have been altered, substituted, or even removed, rendering any count unreliable.

Adding to the irregularities, Webb County allegedly mandated the use of erasable pencils for the recount, a practice without precedent in Texas election history. Despite objections, the state’s election officials permitted it, further eroding confidence in the process. And then came the shocking discovery: certified, unused ballots being shredded *after* the recount was announced, a direct violation of state law.

Texas law demands the preservation of all certified ballots as official records, essential for verifying the accuracy of the count. Their destruction rendered a complete audit impossible. The ballot copying process was abruptly halted, preventing a full forensic review despite documented omissions – instances where only Cuellar’s name appeared on ballots, effectively disenfranchising voters who wished to support Furman.

Despite a court order demanding the ballot copying be allowed, it never fully occurred. A recount triggered the legal requirement for a re-canvass, but the necessary certificate was never produced. When the U.S. House Administration Committee requested the updated canvass report, they received only the original, flawed document.

Furman’s challenge was dismissed as late, not on its merits, but due to a procedural technicality created by the missing certificate. Repeated requests for the document were ignored. The situation was further complicated by the actions of Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina, who, after blocking the full forensic review, switched political parties and announced his candidacy for the same congressional seat.

A sworn affidavit alleges Tijerina told Furman he would run for Congress if Cuellar won, suggesting a clear conflict of interest. His actions directly aligned with that stated objective, betraying the electorate’s trust in neutral adjudication. The Secretary of State’s conduct has also raised concerns, repeatedly taking positions at odds with the Republican Party on election administration, even authorizing funds to defend a system opposed by the Attorney General.

The political landscape of South Texas is steeped in the influence of the Cuellar family. Allegations of using the Sheriff’s department – led by Henry Cuellar’s brother – to mobilize voters and distribute patronage have surfaced, painting a picture of a deeply entrenched political machine. Similar concerns surround another sibling, Rosie Cuellar, who received payment for a municipal judgeship despite never presiding over a case.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Nearby Frio County saw 15 Democrat officials arrested in a ballot-harvesting conspiracy targeting elderly voters, a scheme that received limited national attention. The legitimacy of congressional representation hinges on public confidence in lawful election administration. A full and transparent review of the 2024 election in Texas’s 28th District is not just warranted, it’s essential.

An immediate review and public hearing by the U.S. House Administration Committee is critical. Allowing these procedural barriers to stand unchallenged would set a dangerous precedent, undermining the integrity of elections far beyond this single district. The rule of law must govern elections – or nothing does. Jay Furman, now running in the 35th Congressional District, continues to fight for accountability, not for personal gain, but to ensure free and fair elections for all South Texans.