We learn some more about a Democratic Congressional recruit.
Bobby Pulido
Tejano superstar Bobby Pulido is forming an exploratory committee for a congressional bid in South Texas as he considers challenging Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg.
Pulido, a Democrat and Edinburg native, is a titan of the music genre that has its roots in South Texas. Thirty years after the release of his debut album, he plans to both retire from music and make a decision about pivoting to politics by the end of the year.
Under the current map, De La Cruz is the only Texas Republican that Democrats are targeting in 2026.
But the district boundaries could change in the coming weeks as the Texas Legislature pursues a new round of redistricting in the overtime special session that began Monday. Republicans are likely to redraw lines in the region to attempt to capture more seats in neighboring Democratic districts, changes that could affect the shape of De La Cruz’s seat.
If Pulido runs, he’ll contend with a significant rightward shift among Latino voters in South Texas.
Spanning from Hidalgo County along the border to Guadalupe County on the edge of San Antonio, Texas’ 15th Congressional District elected De La Cruz, its first Republican representative, in 2022. Her margin of victory swelled from 8 percentage points that year to 14 in 2024, and both President Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz won the district by over 10 points.
As Democrats search for answers in South Texas after a disastrous showing in 2024, Pulido, a well-known figure in the region, thinks he could help depolarize the electorate and win back some of the recent GOP converts.
”I’m proud to be from the [Rio Grande Valley],” he said. “And I’m proud to say that in the RGV, people vote for the person, not the party.”
Pulido believes Democrats can improve their standing across the region by focusing on economic issues and leaning into religion.
As industries across South Texas contend with tariffs, labor shortages and immigration raids, Pulido said he plans to discuss economic solutions — including changes to immigration policy — with voters as he considers whether to run. Latinos in the region are culturally conservative, he added, but the right Democrat could win them over.
“The further left we run on certain things, certain Latino voters are not in agreement with it — that’s just a fact,” Pulido said. “But I still believe that as a Democratic Party, we’re a big tent, and we’ll accept all kinds of people. I also think that you can have the right messengers.”
Pulido plans to use the rest of the year to decide if he is the right candidate to take on De La Cruz. He’s setting up “ranch halls” beginning in August — a twist on traditional town halls — in which he will host backyard barbecues featuring both music and policy discussion.
If he runs, he’ll face a competitive primary. Ada Cuellar, an emergency physician in Harlingen, has already launched a bid.
As noted before, Pulido has been in the picture since at least January. I don’t know enough about him or about Ada Cuellar (no relation to Henry) to have any preferences, I’d just like to have as many viable candidates running as possible. If redistricting goes through and if the targets include Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez as expected, it’s likely that CD15 will be a little less red as a result. (As of Friday, still no “official” maps.) If Pulido does run, then may the best candidate between him and Ada Cuellar win. We’re going to need all of the help we can get.
Wonder if the “Progressives” will attack his social conservatism, they like doing that to people in the valley and here in Harris County. I guess they prefer the magas conservatism.
‘Social conservatism’ usually means stripping someone of their rights. Since the term is vague, perhaps intentionally so, who is getting casually tied to the train tracks here?
Manny, I want to see the peinado under that Stetson before I pass judgement.
To me, it means let me be and you be you. Personally, I hate that every TV and movie now has gay lovers; heck, I am old and don’t even care for any loving. That is why John Wick-type movies are my favorite. Hitman Agent 47.
‘Social conservatism’ is a euphemism for discrimination against anyone who isn’t a straight male. Can you imagine the uproar if we started calling racism ‘racial conservatism’?
In the context of South Texas Latinos I am going to go out on a limb and say that the social conservatives mentioned are intensely right wing Catholics. Anti-women’s rights, anti-LGBTQ+ rights. Somehow this is okay because it is ‘traditional’. Of course, discrimination against all Latinos in Texas is also traditional.
You’re a stud Manny
Sorry, J, we don’t give a shit what you do, as long as we don’t have to watch or it is poured down our throat. I grew up a second-class citizen in segregated schools, and jobs for college-educated Mexicans were not likely. As my guero counselor told me, don’t waste your time going to college.
Besides J, you can hide if you are gay; many still do. A black person can’t hide his blackness if he or she is gay, even worse. I can’t hide what I look like, and I would never consider changing my last name.
Those ain’t gays, those masked men are pulling over and disappearing.
A Wednesday brief reveals that LGBTQ+ people of color face disproportionate discrimination in employment and housing, while also experiencing worse negative health outcomes. This group is also much more likely to live in states that lack inclusive civil rights protections, according a review of existing research from Cornell University, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), the National LGBTQ Task Force, and Freedom for All Americans (FFAA).
You’re a stud Manny
Too old to be a stud; I’m not sure what that means, anyway.
The term “stud” in slang can have several meanings:
Attractive Male: It often refers to an extremely attractive and typically successful guy, often used in a context of objectification.
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Highly Skilled Individual: In sports, it describes a talented athlete, especially one who is up-and-coming.
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Stud Farm: The term originates from breeding high-pedigree animals, where it describes a stud as a male that is selectively bred for breeding purposes.
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Cultural Identity: In the LGBTQ+ community, particularly among Black lesbians, “stud” is used to define a masculine identity, often in contrast to “butch”.
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