At least three Democratic sheriffs whom Texas Gov. Greg Abbott touted as supporting his election campaign deny having done so.
In a Monday press release, the Republican governor announced a dozen endorsements from Democratic sheriffs in South and West Texas as he competes in a tight race with Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
But by Thursday, three of those sheriffs stepped forward to issue public statements or tell media outlets they never threw their support behind Abbott.
The Democratic sheriffs on Abbott’s list represent Brewster, Brooks, Culberson, Dimmit, Duval, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Presidio, Val Verde, Webb, Zapata and Zavala counties — all largely Hispanic counties that went red in 2024 and are being closely watched for potential Democratic gains in 2026.
Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez and Zapata County Sheriff Ramon Montes say they ended up on the list without endorsing Abbott for a fourth term as governor.
As of press time Friday, only Cuellar’s name has been removed from the governor’s list.
Cuellar, the brother of Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, posted on Facebook earlier this week to show that he had asked a reporter remove his name from the list, adding that “the governor endorsed Tano[,] my brother’s opponent.”
“I’m not supporting him. How can I support him? And it’s confusing people,” Sheriff Cuellar told Border Report.
Republican Tano Tijerina is challenging Henry Cuellar in Texas’ 28th Congressional District.
In comments to the Texas Tribune, Abbott’s campaign called Cuellar’s inclusion a “mistake.”
In a Wednesday statement, Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez said that while he appreciated the governor’s “logistical assistance and ongoing commitment to helping Val Verde County with critical border law enforcement resources during a time of need, recognizing and appreciating state support is entirely distinct from a political endorsement.”
“I want to make it unequivocally clear that I have not issued a political endorsement of Governor Greg Abbott, and I did not authorize anyone to use my name as an endorsement,” Martinez wrote.
In a statement, Abbott campaign spokesperson Eduardo Leal told the Tribune that Martinez had “proudly endorsed” the governor for reelection in January. Leal also asserted that Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra “pressured” Martinez “to retract that endorsement.”
“In Texas, a sheriff’s word isn’t a suggestion,” Leal told the Tribune. “It’s a commitment.”
In a text message to the Tribune, Guerra denied that he pressured anyone to rescind their endorsement.
“I am honored that the governor or his campaign staff think that I pull so much weight,” he said. “A retraction of support has nothing to do with me.”
Zapata County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Juan Molina told online news outlet Border Report that Montes “is not endorsing anyone at this time.”
According to Border Report, Sheriff Cuellar said that he spoke with Jim Hogg County Sheriff Alarcon, who told him that he did not endorse the governor either. However, Border Report has not been able to confirm that.
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