Tejano Star Bobby Pulido Flips Texas 15th District, Beating Monica De La Cruz

Democrat Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy winning Tejano singer and a newcomer to politics, has won election to the US House in Texas's 15th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz. The Associated Press declared Pulido the winner at 12:37 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, November 4.

The AP results page, marked Called, listed Pulido with 126,204 votes to De La Cruz's 76,305, with 273 of 288 precincts reporting and an estimated 95.12 percent counted, about 62.3 percent to 37.7 percent. Results remain unofficial pending certification.

USA Today independently reported the flip on Wednesday, in a former Democratic stronghold the party lost in 2022 after Latino voters shifted right. Republicans had held the seat since 2022, and Texas Republicans redrew the district in 2025.

Concession on election night

De La Cruz conceded at about 10:10 p.m. on election night, ValleyCentral reported via Tejano Nation, and Decision Desk HQ also projected Pulido the winner.

The district stretches from the Rio Grande Valley north through parts of the Coastal Bend and into rural communities east of San Antonio. It is about 81 percent Hispanic, and President Donald Trump carried it by about 18 percentage points in 2024.

De La Cruz first won the district in 2022, becoming the first Republican Latina to represent Texas in Congress. She was seeking a third term and is serving her second.

A singer runs as a conservative Democrat

Pulido, 53, campaigned as a conservative Democrat on affordability, health care, getting corporate money out of elections and the negative impacts of President Trump's mass deportation raids, USA Today reported. He distanced himself from the national Democratic Party on other border policy and culture war issues. This was his first run for public office.

He staked out moderate positions, and he brought his music with him. Pulido campaigned at concerts, weddings, quinceaneras and graduation parties, the rooms where South Texas had heard him for three decades.

In a statement reported by USA Today, Pulido said: "Thank you South Texas, tonight we made history. For over 30 years, you played my music at your weddings, your quinceaneras, and your carne asadas, and the past year you welcomed me into those same celebrations on the campaign trail. Tonight, you trusted me with something even bigger than a song, you trusted me with your future and I will work hard everyday to honor it."

On the trail, in words reported by USA Today, he put his pitch plainly: "I'm not team red. I'm not team blue. I'm team you."

From the stage to the House

Pulido is the son of Tejano pioneer Roberto Pulido. He rose in the mid 1990s with the albums Desvelado and Ensename, won Latin Grammys for best Tejano album in 2022 and 2025, and held what was billed as the final concert of his 31 year career in October 2026.

On stage at that final concert, reported by USA Today, he said: "To me, public service is pretty simple. It's looking somebody in the eye and saying, 'I got your back.'"

Pulido is expected to be sworn in when the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2027.