Biography:

Henry Cuellar was born and raised in the Texas border city of Laredo, where he currently lives.

He earned a bachelor's degree in foreign service at Georgetown University in 1978 and a law degree from the University of Texas Law School in 1981. He also holds a doctorate in government, earned at UT Austin in 1998.

He worked as a lawyer and as a customs broker and represented Laredo in the Texas House from 1986 to 2000. He held a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee and was vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee.

He was appointed Texas Secretary of State in January 2001 by Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican. Cuellar resigned that position nine months later, saying that he was considering a run for elective office.

He formerly taught at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. He and his wife, Imelda, have two daughters.

Past Campaigns:

Henry Cuellar was first elected to the Texas House of Representative in 1986, and he was re-elected to seven more two-year terms, in many cases without significant opposition.

He was appointed Texas Secretary of State in January 2001 by Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican.

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