Tano Tijerina

Tijerina earned a bachelor's degree in fitness and sports from Texas A&M International University.[2] He played minor league baseball and worked in the ranching industry before his judgeship, and Ballotpedia also lists him as executive vice president of the Precept Ministries Spanish Board.[2]

Tijerina was elected Webb County Judge in 2014 as a Democrat and took office in 2015. He won re-election in 2018 with 76.3% against Republican Alfonso Casso and again in 2022, when no general election was held after he advanced from the Democratic primary unopposed.[2][3] In December 2024 he switched to the Republican Party, saying, according to the Texas Tribune, that the Democratic Party no longer aligned with his values.[2][3] He says his record as county judge includes cutting property taxes five times, delivering $20 million in utility relief, and expanding healthcare access in Webb County.[2]

Tijerina announced his campaign for Congress on December 2, 2025; his third term as county judge runs through December 31, 2026.[3] He won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary with 74.3% of the vote over Eileen Day.[2] He received 29.6% of the vote to Henry Cuellar's 65.8%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]