Grammy-winning Tejano singer Bobby Pulido is taking an unconventional approach to his congressional campaign in Texas's 15th district: performing at quinceañeras. The Democratic nominee has embraced the tradition after his Republican opponent, Rep. Monica De La Cruz, dismissed him as someone you'd hire for a niece's party.
Pulido now averages two to three quinceañeras per weekend, along with other events like a 90-year-old's birthday. His star power could help Democrats win back Hispanic voters, who make up 80% of the district. Pulido believes many voters have buyer's remorse after supporting Donald Trump in 2024.
Democrats face a challenge with Hispanic voters, who shifted right in recent elections. In the Rio Grande Valley, Trump improved his margins in 2024. Pulido argues that Democrats took Hispanic voters for granted, while Republicans promised affordability. He criticises Trump's cuts to Hispanic-serving institutions and deportation policies harming small businesses.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named Pulido one of eight candidates in its 'Red to Blue' programme. However, a recent Economist/YouGov poll shows only 38% of Hispanics would vote for a generic Democrat for Congress, compared to 36% for a Republican.
