Carlos Cascos, former Cameron County Judge and Texas Secretary of State, passed away on Wednesday night. Justice of the Peace Linda Salazar confirmed his death at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville at 9:15 p.m.
Earlier that evening, at 8:18 p.m., South Padre Island police officers responded to a call in the 1900 block of Gulf Blvd., where a driver was found unconscious. The fire department arrived on the scene and administered CPR before emergency medical services transported him to a local hospital. Judge Salazar reported that a nurse indicated the cause of death was cardiac arrest, noting that Cascos had a history of heart disease.
Carlos Cascos was born in Matamoros, Mexico, on September 18, 1952, and immigrated to the United States as a child with his family. His contributions to the community have been widely recognized, with Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. acknowledging his impactful legacy.
Cascos had a history of heart issues and underwent a quadruple bypass surgery in 2022, said Morgan Cisneros Graham, former Cameron County GOP Chair and operations director at Cascos' firm, Cascos & Associates, PC. She considered him a best friend and mentor. "He was a very pragmatic, moderate Republican," she said, adding that he was accessible to anyone, regardless of party. "Those of us who are considered family are not the only ones who lost — everybody has, even people who have never heard of him."
Before serving as Secretary of State, Cascos, a certified public accountant, held elected office for several years. He was elected Cameron County Judge in 2006 and reelected in 2010 and 2014. He also served on the Texas Public Safety Commission and as a Cameron County commissioner from 1991 through 2002.
Former state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, said he was proud to confirm Cascos to represent the Rio Grande Valley at a statewide level. Though Cascos started his political career in the Valley as a Democrat, he switched to the Republican Party by the time of his nomination to be Secretary of State in 2014. Despite serving in opposing parties, Lucio said they always found a way to work together. "He reached across party lines, which I respected him for, and I admired that of him," Lucio said.
"My heartfelt sympathy to his family," Lucio added. "I know that Carlos was proud of his service to the community and rightfully so."
In neighboring Hidalgo County, Judge Richard F. Cortez expressed his shock and sadness at Cascos' passing. "As a former Cameron County Judge, a former Cameron County Commissioner, and a former Texas Secretary of State, Carlos embodied public service and served faithfully not only the people of Cameron County but also the Rio Grande Valley and the State of Texas as well," Cortez said in a statement.
Carlos Cascos is survived by his wife, Aurora Candida G. Cascos, and their two daughters.
He was born in Mexico, immigrating to the U.S. as a child. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.
