click to enlarge Twitter / @JCisnerosTX (left); Courtesy Photo / Greg Casar (right)
Jessica Cisneros (left) and Greg Casar have continued to rack up support from high-profile progressives.
A pair of high-profile progressives running to represent San Antonio in the U.S. House delivered strong performances in Tuesday's primary.
Greg Casar, a former Austin City Council member, won his race with a solid majority, while Laredo immigration attorney Jessica Cisneros looks likely to have forced a runoff against longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, one of the most conservative congressional Democrats.
In recent weeks, Casar and Cisneros pulled support from marquee progressives including
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,
Sen. Bernie Sanders and
Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
The Associated Press
called Casar's race at 11 p.m., when he'd landed around 60% of the vote. He ran against former San Antonio councilmember Rebecca Viagran and State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez to represent the gerrymandered 35th Congressional District, which includes both downtown San Antonio and central Austin.
Cisneros' neck-and-neck race with Cuellar is her second attempt to unseat the moderate Democrat. With more than 99% of the vote counted Wednesday morning, Decision Desk HQ has still
declined to call the race for the 28th Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio to Laredo.
Cisneros' fortunes were likely aided by a
January FBI raid on Cuellar's home and office. The raid is
reportedly linked to a probe into the political influence of the oil-rich Republic of Azerbaijan. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing.
Stay on top of San Antonio news and views. Sign up for our Weekly Headlines Newsletter.