But by pardoning Cuellar, Trump essentially lifted one of the biggest attacks he’d faced from political rivals, including Republicans who are trying to beat the Laredo Democrat next year. Just this week, Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina kicked off his campaign against Cuellar and specifically cited his legal troubles.
Despite the new redistricting map, Cuellar has said he thinks he can still win the reconfigured 28th Congressional District, given that he has regularly outperformed state and national Democrats in past elections. On Capitol Hill Wednesday, he exuded the same confidence, telling the Houston Chronicle’s James Osborne and other reporters staked outside his office: “This is a conservative district and I’m going to win.”
Look at it like this. With the Dem pardoned, the Republicans can run ads about how corrupt their opponent is. That should help them win. If the Dem wasn’t pardoned then some other D that would be a tougher opponent could show up.
Also, if the pardoned Dem wins then trump will have some sway with his future votes. It feels like a win/win for him.
On the other hand, the redraw has skewed it a deeply conservative district and now the conservative vote might be split between Ceuller and the Republican, while Democrats would be willing to take crumbs if it meant retaking house majority.
The only way it works out is if Trump and his team truly believe their loser Republican candidate didn’t stand any chance.