Tano Tijerina

Tano Eduardo Tijerina is the Webb County Judge and Republican candidate for Texas' 28th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Henry Cuellar in 2026. A Laredo native born June 23, 1974, he was drafted in the eighth round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1993 and pitched in their minor league system for five years before returning to complete his degree at Texas A&M International University. Originally elected as a Democrat to lead Webb County in 2014, he switched to the Republican Party in December 2024, citing the Democratic Party's leftward shift. Now in his third term as County Judge, his key accomplishments include securing the presidential permit for Bridge 4/5 (a $300M international crossing), advancing domestic violence prevention, and promoting youth civic engagement. The Texas Supreme Court appointed him to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Third-generation Laredoan from a family with deep roots in Webb County. Son of Cayetano Tijerina III and Rosalinda Flores, both educators in Webb County. His grandfather Cayetano "Tito" Tijerina Jr. (1919-2014) was a WWII Marine sharpshooter in the Pacific Theater and 46-year U.S. Postal Service employee in Laredo. Married to Kimberly Tijerina, a Laredo-born entrepreneur (CEO of CBD Texas Farms). They raised five children, including two adopted from Guatemala. His grandfather's motto guides him: "Lo dificil lo puedo hacer, lo imposible me tardo un rato" (The difficult I can do, the impossible takes me a while).