The political campaign between Democrats for the Cameron County seat has dangerously escalated between the two contenders, Steve Guerra and Eddie Treviño Jr., who faced each other in a public debate on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Parry’s Pizzeria, where both pointed fiery fingers at one another before a crowd of nearly 150 people who enjoyed the spectacle.

Thus, Eddie Treviño Jr. mercilessly questioned Steve Guerra:

“What do you do for a living? How do you make your money? Maybe you don’t need the county judge salary because you’re making so much money doing who-knows-what, and you refuse to be clear with the people of Cameron County.”

Although it appeared to be a simple question Eddie was asking Steve, his tone of voice revealed desperation and a certain hint of hatred accumulated throughout the campaign, where they have openly accused the latter of allegedly being linked to fuel smuggling operations into Mexico.

He lands another punch to the stomach:

“He says he’s a businessman, but he won’t tell us what his businesses are. And then he mentions the companies: two of them are inactive and one barely opened.”

Then, without compassion, Eddie finishes him off before the audience as if it were part of bread and circuses in the Roman arena:

“Come on, folks. This man is trying to fool all of us.”

The event, which began at 6:30 in the evening, had promised calm between both candidates; seated at separate tables, they appeared nervous before the debate started. Treviño, holding a stack of papers in his hand, made notes and prepared himself; meanwhile Steve, behind him, expanded his broad chest, appeared restless, perhaps nervous and uncomfortable; he complained of suffering from a flu condition that had clogged his ears.

The format of the program required both candidates first to introduce themselves to the audience; afterward would come a round of questions they both had to answer. Naturally, their answers included references to each other, and eventually they ended up attacking each other personally.

In this internal campaign to select the Democratic candidate who will compete for the office of Cameron County Judge, its main characteristic has been the insults and disqualifications between both sides, possibly attributed to their campaign operatives. On Treviño’s side is Rodrigo Moreno Fernández, a figure who left a dark stain in Matamoros after being mentioned in alleged multiple computer sales frauds through a company called MalTalk in the late 1980s, which faced complaints before the Federal Consumer Protection Agency; meanwhile, on Guerra’s side, these tactics are attributed to Martín Sarquiz, a man with alleged ties to the old guard of notorious strongmen from Matamoros.

With less forcefulness, Steve tried to neutralize Treviño, and it was not that the latter had appropriated the truth in order to pound him; rather, Guerra appeared insecure before the experience of the man attacking him, and his arguments seemed small compared to the emphasis the other placed on his words.

Steve Guerra sought to expose him as well:

“Many people don’t know that for the 973 acres where they are building the 21.4-billion-dollar LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) facility, they have to buy 3,000 acres that can never be touched.” — Here there could be a point of privileged information where authorities possessing firsthand knowledge buy and later resell at higher prices.

Guerra continues, complaining about the preference the county led by Eddie gave to Elon Musk’s companies:

“But let’s talk about SpaceX. Let’s talk about SpaceX. Let’s talk about Boca Chica. Now we no longer have access, or we have restricted access, to Boca Chica. And that was something that should never have been facilitated. Whatever his reasons were, I’m not going to speculate or throw accusations around, but he’s the one who has dealt with SpaceX. He’s the one who has taken credit for SpaceX.”

He questions him:

“And my question to him is: what exactly was his role in that?”

Steve Guerra’s question to Treviño practically went unanswered, and each side tried to make their words burn, while the looks from their close advisers intensified the tension. Rodrigo Moreno, in the case of the county judge, leaned against the railing in the back, watching through deep dark glasses dressed in a pink blazer, his corpulence standing out; meanwhile, with crossed legs and in a highly receptive pose, Pedro Cárdenas, Brownsville city commissioner and supporter of the challenger, along with his candidate, absorbed the blows from the man currently sitting in the Cameron County seat.

Guerra tried to land a hard blow on Treviño by pointing out failures in public services in the county under his leadership as judge:

“I’ve traveled through neighborhoods and different sectors, and I don’t understand how it’s possible that there are still areas without street lighting. I want to work on that. I also believe it’s very important to focus on drainage. Honestly, I think that, God forbid, if a strong hurricane hits us or another intense storm returns, our homes will once again be underwater. That’s what I want to do regarding infrastructure. We also need to review the electrical issue when we talk about these projects, ensuring there is enough energy and water to sustain them. We don’t want to sink.”

He adds:

“I also want to focus on county processes. And that means not only helping the big companies that arrive, but also local businesses trying to get ahead and open companies. We’re going to streamline those processes. We’re going to move at the speed of business, not at the speed of government.”

According to Eddie himself, his grandmother discovered his vocation for becoming a lawyer when he was only seven years old:

“You should become a lawyer.”

And he asked her:

“And what does a lawyer do?”

She answered:

“Lawyers get paid to argue.”

And on this date, he has already been earning as Cameron County Judge for nearly ten years; at other times as commissioner and later mayor of Brownsville. He has known how to use his saliva for arguing well, which is why he had Guerra cornered with sheer rhetoric.

Treviño assures:

“Because all of this has taught me exactly how important it is to have empathy toward those who suffer and toward the needs of our community. Let me go back a little and tell you about some things we did when I was mayor. That walking and biking trail that goes from downtown to Palo Alto, that was our work.

That park on Central Boulevard, that was our work.

Infrastructure. Economic development. That was our work.”

Although this claim about reducing taxes could arguably be challenged as misleading, Guerra’s team could not refute it with concrete examples:

“During the last three years we have reduced the Cameron County tax rate,” Treviño stated. “Today, Cameron County has the lowest tax rate among all governmental entities in the Valley. We have maintained a balanced budget. We have strong financial management. We increased our general fund to cover 166 days of operations.”

Trying to stay afloat and neutralize Treviño, Guerra made it clear that Treviño has neglected communities:

“We’re going to launch a community outreach program. We’re going to meet with all communities. That feeling exists out there. People say:

‘We feel forgotten in La Feria.’

‘We feel forgotten in Santa Rosa.’

They tell us:

‘We need help here.’

And also:

‘We feel forgotten in San Benito.’

I’ve heard it again and again. We’re going to meet with community leaders and get to work on that.”

And he calls Treviño’s integrity into question by suggesting the county places obstacles before new investments:

“We’re also going to review economic development projects that are pending arrival. In fact, there is a 3.2-billion-dollar investment and 10,000 jobs coming to the Port of Brownsville, and only one thing is missing: whatever they still have pending with the county. Whatever exactly that reason is, it’s not my place to answer.”

Every time Steve receives a blow, he smiles nervously, but then assumes a combative posture; it is evident he gets upset easily and loses his composure.

Because Steve knows very well that the SpaceX issue is like a painful sore spot for him whenever his opponent presses on that subject, he tries to justify everything his administration has done in favor of that billionaire company:

“SpaceX is extremely upset with me,” Treviño maintains, “because two years ago, during the legislative session, they wanted to remove the authority Cameron County has had since 2013 regarding road and beach closures. Obviously, when launches happen, you can’t have people near that area. The program was originally supposed to be just a launch facility, but it became much larger when they moved Starship production there. That has generated more than 4,000 jobs.”

He explains:

“I constantly remind them that they have to protect our environment. Hard as it may be to believe, some years ago Elon Musk was considered the greatest environmentalist in the world. I don’t know when he lost his way, but we need to keep reminding him that he has a responsibility toward us and toward environmental protection.”

Then Steve cuts him off:

“Well, Mr. Eddie, at what point would you tell developers or outside interests no?”

“If they are not complying with all rules and regulations, then they cannot move forward with their projects,” he emphasizes.

But Eddie knows where to apply his rhetoric according to the advice his grandmother gave him:

“Now let me explain something different because perhaps you don’t know this. Counties only have the authority granted and provided to them by the State of Texas. Cities and municipalities, on the other hand, basically have any authority not prohibited or restricted to them. There’s a huge difference in how counties operate compared to municipalities.”

With a play on words, he kills the rooster:

“And if he doesn’t know that, I believe I have seen Mr. Guerra at exactly zero County Commission meetings in the last nine and a half years. So he doesn’t know what the county needs. He doesn’t know how the county operates. And he needs to make sure that if he wants to run for public office, he is far better informed than what he’s currently showing all of you.”

As a final touch, Eddie also scratches Guerra and even thanks him:

“Again, I give him credit for being here tonight because during the primary election he refused to face us and rejected our challenge to debate.”

Of course Guerra had much more material with which to attack Eddie, but it was obvious he lacked information that would truly hurt his adversary, because he touched on the critical points only superficially, without representing in that forum any problem the other could not overcome, especially since he has carried his grandmother’s advice in his pocket since age seven.

With a certain fear, Steve spoke about the jails, but he gave no clear examples of corruption or what is woven daily inside those places:

“I don’t know how many of you know this, but just last month the Texas Jail Commission found that the Cameron County jail is not complying with standards. It’s overcrowded. More than 100 people are sleeping on the floor every day.”

“And what does that mean?”

“It means the correctional officers, who should have a ratio of one guard for every 48 inmates, currently have a ratio of one guard for every 56 inmates.”

“And what does that mean? That they are being placed in danger every single day.”

“I’m not going to allow that. As your county judge, I’m going to make sure the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department has everything it needs.”

To the rhythm of personal attacks, they began saying goodbye. Steve spoke fluidly, confident in his closing remarks:

“Ladies and gentlemen, again thank you for your time, for coming, and for listening to both Mr. Treviño and me. I humbly ask that you consider supporting me and voting for me in order to achieve positive change in this runoff election.”

He takes the opportunity to clarify and blame Treviño:

“I want to touch on something. During political campaigns you see advertisements and messages, but you can’t believe all those things being said or those signs appearing all over the city just come out of nowhere. Mr. Treviño has been behind that. That’s how all of this started. And I want to make a commitment here tonight: I’m not going to participate in that kind of politics.”

“Imagine this: I would have loved for my children to be here tonight, but I didn’t bring them. Why? Because there was an elevated security alert. I am a civilized man. Mr. Chairman” — referring to the Cameron County Democratic Party chairman present there — “you are a civilized man too. There is no need for this. We are all Democrats. We all work for the same people.”

As he prepared to leave, he attempted one final stab at Eddie:

“Do you have someone accessible and close to you every day, and not only during the last four months of a political campaign?”

“That is something you must answer yourselves.”

But the final stab was delivered by Eddie:

“I don’t know if you saw them, but there were signs all over Cameron County with a rat that had my face on it.

Isn’t that dirty politics? It’s okay, Steve, is it okay?”

The county judge, visibly upset, goes for Steve’s throat:

“And now you talk about an elevated security environment. What the hell are you talking about? Did someone come here to try to threaten me? Is that what you’re talking about?”

“I don’t know if you saw them, but there were signs all over Cameron County with a rat that had my face on it.”

“Isn’t that dirty politics? It’s okay, Steve, it’s okay.”

Then Eddie furiously questions Guerra, as if doubting his credibility:

“What do you do for a living? How do you make your money? Maybe you don’t need the county judge salary because you’re making so much money doing who-knows-what, and you refuse to be clear with the people of Cameron County.”

“He says he’s a businessman, but he won’t tell us what his businesses are. And then he mentions the companies: two of them are inactive and one barely opened.”

He erases him from the list of friends despite all the brotherhood and prayers:

“Sir, with all due respect, you and I were friends before this. I don’t think we’re going to continue being friends after this.”

He made him look like a fraud:

“Come on, folks. This man is trying to fool all of us.”

For Treviño, his opponent Guerra has already been politically buried, but the runoff election is coming on May 26, 2026, and the political dead can come back to life.