Jessica Cisneros picks up 10 local endorsements from District 28 officials

Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren runs onto the stage with Jessica Cisneros as she holds a town hall meeting at Vic Mathias Shores at Lady Bird Lake Metro Park on September 10, 2019. Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren runs onto the stage with Jessica Cisneros as she holds a town hall meeting at Vic Mathias Shores at Lady Bird Lake Metro Park on September 10, 2019. Photo: Tom Reel, Staff Photographer Photo: Tom Reel, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close Jessica Cisneros picks up 10 local endorsements from District 28 officials 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

Jessica Cisneros, the 26-year-old immigration attorney who is challenging Rep. Henry Cuellar's seat in Congress, announced Tuesday that 10 local leaders in District 28 — mainly precinct chairs and Democratic Party leaders — have endorsed her campaign.

READ MORE: Cisneros' campaign has raised $459K in bid to unseat Henry Cuellar

This is just the first wave of endorsements, Cisneros said. It's just a matter of sitting down and talking to people, and fostering those relationships here locally, she said.

"As we keep proving and showing people that we have the momentum, and that this race is going to be the winner in March, we're positive that more people are going to be endorsing," Cisneros said.

The endorsements come from:

Juan Maldonado, former Hidalgo County Democratic Party chairman

Laura Solis, La Grulla city commissioner

Eli Olivarez, former State Democratic Executive Committee chairman, District 20

Rito De Anda, Rio Bravo community leader

Jonathan Compton, Webb County precinct chair

Ariel Gonzalez, local Democratic Party leader

Alma Garcia, Hidalgo County precinct chair

Mary Martinez, former Hidalgo County precinct chair

Blanca Quintanilla, Hidalgo County precinct chair

Sara Lopez, former Hidalgo County precinct chair

Many of these people Cisneros has met on the campaign trail, and some have hosted events themselves, she said.

"The most important thing for our campaign is having that local support, and we're really glad to have it and keep fostering it and growing it," Cisneros said.

Her most notable endorsement came a month ago from Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren.

Then Cuellar was endorsed last week by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Cheri Bustos, who heads the House Democrats' campaign arm. His campaign spokesperson, Colin Strother, argued that Warren's endorsement of Cisneros' campaign shows that she "has no support in the district."

READ MORE: Democratic presidential candidate backs Jessica Cisneros in primary battle against Henry Cuellar

Cisneros is running as a progressive in the Democratic primary, touting ideas such as the Green New Deal and Medicare for all. Cuellar argues that as a centrist Democrat, he represents the true conservative values of his district.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com