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Texas GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz loses to Dem musician who sang at 80 quinceañeras
Democrat Bobby Pulido defeated Republican Monica De La Cruz in Texas’s 15th Congressional District, flipping a seat that Donald Trump had won by 18 percentage points in 2024. The result makes the race an unexpected Democratic pickup and highlights how economic concerns and opposition to immigration raids may have shifted Hispanic voter support.
Pulido, a two-time Latin Grammy-winning Spanish-language singer, faced scrutiny over his past performances with a former bandmate who is a registered sex offender. He drew attention to his music career by performing at about 80 quinceañeras after De La Cruz questioned his appeal to voters; meanwhile, redistricting left her seeking support from a largely new constituency. Her brother, Carlos, also lost his congressional race.
In short
- Democrat Bobby Pulido flipped a Texas seat held by Monica De La Cruz.
- Trump had won the district by 18 points in 2024.
- Pulido said he performed at about 80 quinceañeras.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Pulido’s win can be seen as evidence that voters respond to candidates who connect with local concerns and cultural life, even in a district that recently favoured Republicans. Economic anxieties and opposition to immigration raids may have helped him build support, while De La Cruz had to introduce herself to many voters after redistricting changed the constituency.
The case against
De La Cruz’s loss does not by itself show a lasting shift in Hispanic voters or the district’s politics; a single election can reflect candidate-specific factors and changing district boundaries. Voters could also reasonably weigh Pulido’s experience and judgement, including scrutiny over his past performances with a former bandmate who is a registered sex offender, when deciding whether he was the stronger representative.
Explained simply
Texas’s 15th Congressional District is in the Rio Grande Valley, along the US–Mexico border, and has a large Hispanic population. It elects a member to the US House of Representatives, where lawmakers represent local districts and help make federal laws.
Monica De La Cruz is a Republican who held the seat, while Bobby Pulido is a Democrat and a Spanish-language singer. Changes to the district’s boundaries meant De La Cruz was seeking votes from many people who had not been part of her previous constituency.
The result matters because the district had strongly backed Donald Trump in 2024, making a change in party control unexpected. The contest also drew attention to how voters’ views on household costs and immigration enforcement may affect support for the parties.