Tejano singer seeks to flip redrawn Texas House seat by appealing beyond party lines
Bobby Pulido, a Tejano musician and Democratic nominee for Texas' 15th Congressional District, is campaigning in a heavily Republican area, urging voters to consider candidates beyond party affiliation. The district was redrawn to favor the GOP, but recent polls show declining support for President Trump among Hispanic voters, giving Pulido an opening. He faces incumbent Republican Monica De La Cruz in the November election.
Pulido's campaign strategy centers on appealing to voters frustrated with both major parties, leveraging his celebrity status from a music career that includes two Latin Grammy wins. The district's Republican tilt was engineered through a 2025 redistricting process that extended its reach into rural counties east of San Antonio while maintaining a Hispanic majority. Recent polling shows Trump's approval among Texas Hispanic voters at just 33 percent, with district voters favoring Democrats by 14 points on the generic ballot. Outside spending reflects the race's national stakes, with centrist Democratic PACs backing Pulido while a MAGA-affiliated super PAC has committed over $1.2 million against him. Democrats need a net gain of three seats to reclaim the House.
This race may signal whether Hispanic voters in redrawn South Texas districts remain aligned with Republicans or revert to Democratic support amid economic discontent. The outcome could influence how both parties approach Hispanic outreach nationally, particularly on issues like tariffs, border policy, and cost-of-living concerns. A Pulido victory might encourage more celebrity candidates and moderate Democrats to contest similar districts, while a De La Cruz win could validate the GOP's redistricting strategy. The result may also shape midterm messaging on economic performance and party loyalty among a pivotal voting bloc.