Attorneys for District 28 Congressional candidate Jessica Cisneros filed a challenge on January 8 for candidate Tannya Benavides’ placement on the March 2022 primary ballot.
Tannya Benavides
According to correspondence from Cisneros’ attorney, Brandy Wingate Voss, to Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa, Benavides submitted petitions on incorrect forms and without language required by the Texas Elections Code.
The challenge, which was received over last weekend at the party’s state office, was denied by the Texas Democratic Party.
Benavides learned of the challenge and its denial on Monday, January 10, in a brief email from Rose Clauston, primary administrator for the state Democratic Party, who attached a copy of the challenge and the Party’s response to the challenge.
Clauston’s succinct correspondence read:
“We responded to the challenge yesterday in the following way: ‘After reviewing the applicable law and in light of the Texas Supreme Court’s recent in In re Green Party, 20-0708 (Tex. 2020), Chairman Hinojosa thereby denies the challenge.’”
Benavides said, “This divisive, oppressive attempt to disqualify me from a place on the ballot calls to question the Cisneros campaign claim that their candidate is not only an advocate for the voices of the people of Congressional District 28, but that she also supports fellow Latinas and women of color. Her challenge was an attempt to silence and disenfranchise the 611 voters who signed my petition.”
She added, “For me, this race is about uniting voters by truly understanding their needs.
Jessica Cisneros
As a Fronteriza, I refuse to feed into polarizing rhetoric. Rather, I invite both of my Democratic opponents, Jessica Cisneros and Henry Cuellar, to a debate that will give voters what they need to decide who they want to elect.”
Incumbent Cuellar, a nine-term Congressman, faces Benavides and Cisneros in the March 1 primary election. Laredoan Sandra Whitten and at least six others fill the Republican slate for candidacy in the District 28 primary race. They are Steve Fowler of San Antonio, Ed Cabrera of Linn, Rolando Rodriguez of Hidalgo, Willie Vasquez Ng of San Antonio, Eric Hohman of San Antonio, and former deputy director for Senator Ted Cruz, Cassandra (Cassy) L. García of Edinburg.
Nine terms? ‘Bout time for a change, qué no?