Trump-endorsed congressional Republicans in south Texas trailing in polls

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(The Center Square) – In South Texas, where nearly all border counties flipped red in support of President Donald Trump in the last two elections, three candidates he’s endorsed for Congress are in trouble. 

A new Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University poll indicates Democrats are leading in three congressional races in border districts, which could add to a list of Trump-endorsed candidates losing their races.

In Congressional District 15, Trump-endorsed incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz is trailing Democrat Bobby Pulido by five points. Pulido, a Latin singer who’s never ran for any elected office, has had a campaign mired in controversy. Allegations include foreign interference, cartel connections, being anti-law enforcement, longtime connections to a registered sex offender, dressing like a woman, and appearing to perform lewd acts in a music video, The Center Square reported. 

Despite this, the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, recently moved its rating of CD 15 from “leans Republican” to “toss-up.”

“As strange as it may seem, Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s (R, TX-15) reelection bid in a Trump +18 district now appears to be a genuine Toss-up,” the center said.

The center also questioned the TSU poll, stating, “Whether Pulido is actually leading is debatable, but our understanding is that this is indeed a highly competitive contest.

“While we would usually not rate a Trump +18 seat as a Toss-up, the area just may be more elastic than most districts, and while the region is likely moving right in the longer term, there may be a significant snap back to Democrats in the short term.”

In CD 28, incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar is leading Trump-endorsed Republican challenger Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina by 11 points. Tijerina previously flipped Republican, leaving the Democratic Party prior to Trump pardoning Cuellar. 

In CD 34, incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez leads Trump-endorsed Republican challenger Eric Flores by 3 points. 

Notably, the poll points out that some Republican voters and those who previously voted for Trump plan to vote for Democrats in the three races. 

In CD 15, “8% of Republicans and 8% of 2024 Trump voters intend to vote for Pulido,” the poll found. 

In CD 28, “20% of Republicans and 23% of 2024 Trump voters intend to vote for Cuellar.”

In CD 34, “5% of Republicans and 2% of 2024 Trump voters intend to vote for Gonzalez.”

Trump is also “under water in all three districts, with 54%, 55% and 56% of likely voters disapproving and 40%, 36% and 40% approving of Trump’s handling of his job as president in TX-15, TX-28 and TX-34, respectively,” the poll notes.

Trump ran on a platform of no new wars, protecting the oil and natural gas industry, and reversing the economic woes of the Biden administration. All three of those promises have fallen flat in Texas where voters in multiple polls say they are worse off now than they were prior to him being elected to his second term. 

In the U.S. war on terror, more than 45,000 U.S. troops and military personnel have died in multiple wars since Sept. 11, 2001. Texas lost the second most service members in these wars behind California, according to Department of Defense data. In Trump’s latest conflict with Iran, a Texas soldier was among the first killed, Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, The Center Square reported.

Voters overwhelmingly oppose the conflict, believing it to be another potential forever war – one critics argue never should have been fought and can’t be won.

In Texas border counties, where largely Hispanic voters largely support the Texas oil and gas industry, Trump has touted prioritizing Venezuelan oil, data centers and expansion of big tech facilities, which Texas voters largely oppose. Last month was the fourth consecutive month of job losses in the Texas oil and natural gas upstream sector – a worrying trend noted by the industry, The Center Square reported.