Newly re-elected U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was quick to assure his constituents that he will remain a Democrat amid reports on Monday of a proposed party switch.
Republicans allied with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly called Cuellar over the weekend to propose a switch from the Democratic Party to the GOP, according to an article published by the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
Cuellar declined to give details to The Monitor about the alleged calls.
“As a standard rule we do not discuss private conversations between members of Congress,” Cuellar’s office staff said in a statement Monday. “However, Congressman Cuellar is a lifelong democrat and will remain a Democrat. Period.”
Republicans allegedly made the offer as they work to gain control of the House. They’re still a few members short of the 218-vote threshold.
A source who spoke to the WSJ said Cuellar was offered committee positions and asked what it would take to strike a deal, but Cuellar declined, according to those sources.
A spokesman for McCarthy told WSJ the calls weren’t made at McCarthy’s request.
“Anyone suggesting this is simply exercising in fan fiction,” said Mark Bednar, McCarthy’s spokesman.
