AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Former Republican U.S. Representative Mayra Flores is currently on the mend after being hospitalized on Tuesday, shortly after she announced her candidacy for a U.S. House seat in the 2026 election. According to her campaign, Flores experienced a sudden health scare but is now recovering well, aided by the excellent care and support she received from loved ones.
On the same day as her announcement, Flores, a Texas native, shared her intentions to challenge Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar for his seat in Texas's 28th Congressional District. Not long after her campaign kicked off on social media, it was confirmed that she had been hospitalized, although no further specifics regarding her condition were disclosed.
Mayra Flores made history in 2022 as the first Mexican-born congresswoman in U.S. history when she won a special election in a different Texas border district. She served approximately six months in Congress before losing her bid for a full term in the general elections. Her recent move to run for Congress again underscores the evolving landscape in South Texas, where Republicans have been gaining traction in a region that has historically leaned Democratic.
In recent elections, the GOP has steadily chipped away at the Democratic stronghold in South Texas. Notably, former President Donald Trump won several counties near the U.S.-Mexico border, including Hidalgo and Cameron, during the 2024 election. Furthermore, Starr County, which has a majority Hispanic and working-class demographic, broke with long-standing tradition by supporting Trump, signaling a shift in the political dynamics of the area.
Henry Cuellar, who has represented Texas's 28th Congressional District for twenty years, won reelection last year against a relatively unknown Republican candidate. This election proved to be a test of Cuellar's political resilience, particularly after he and his wife were indicted in 2024 on bribery charges. Prosecutors claim that the couple accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an energy company controlled by Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. Cuellar has maintained his and his wife's innocence, with the legal proceedings still ongoing.
In response to inquiries about his situation, Cuellar's campaign stated that he remains focused on his congressional duties and committed to serving the constituents of Texas's 28th District. The developments in this race will be closely watched, as they represent not just individual campaigns but also broader shifts in political alliances and voter demographics in a historically contested region.
As the political landscape evolves, the upcoming contests will illustrate the changing dynamics in South Texas and potentially reshape the representation in Congress. Mayra Flores’ health and recovery will also be an essential factor as she navigates the path towards her electoral hopes for 2026.
