Former Republican U.S. Representative Mayra Flores is recovering after being hospitalized on Tuesday, just hours after announcing her candidacy for a U.S. House seat in 2026. Her campaign issued a statement on social media saying that Flores had faced a sudden health issue but is now recovering and feeling stronger with the help of her medical team and the support of her loved ones.
Flores, a Texas native, launched her bid to challenge Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar. Shortly after her announcement, her campaign revealed that she had been hospitalized, though no additional details were provided about her condition.
In 2022, Flores became the first Mexican-born woman to serve in the U.S. House after winning a special election in a Texas border district. However, she lost her bid for a full term later that year.
Flores’ decision to challenge Cuellar underscores the growing Republican confidence in South Texas, an area that was historically a Democratic stronghold but has seen increasing GOP support in recent elections. In 2024, several border counties flipped to Trump, including Hidalgo and Cameron, with Starr County breaking a long-standing tradition by voting for Trump.
Cuellar, who has represented Texas’ 28th Congressional District for over 20 years, won his reelection last year despite an indictment on bribery charges. He and his wife were accused of accepting nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani energy company and a Mexican bank, which they have denied. His campaign has stated that Cuellar remains focused on his congressional work and committed to serving the people of his district.