Tejano music star Bobby Pulido wins Texas' 15th District, CBS News projects

Latin Grammy award-winning Tejano music star Bobby Pulido won the Democratic primary in Texas' 15th Congressional District on March 3, 2026, according to CBS News projections, positioning him for a challenging general election against Republican incumbent Rep. Monica De La Cruz. Pulido defeated Ada Cuellar, an emergency physician, in a race that has drawn significant attention due to the district's changing political landscape and the unique candidacy of the music star. The congressional district's boundaries were redrawn in 2025 as part of mid-decade redistricting efforts requested by former President Trump to further favor Republican candidates, creating a formidable challenge for any Democratic contender. Despite these structural advantages for Republicans, recent national trends show Latino voters swinging leftward, including in traditionally conservative areas of Texas where Democrats had not won in over 40 years, making Pulido's potential candidacy particularly interesting to strategists from both parties who recognize the need for a candidate with strong name recognition and appeal to conservative Latino voters. His bid received significant financial support with approximately $1 million in outside spending from Blue Dog Action's political arm, a moderate Democratic operation that likely saw his celebrity status and cultural connections as assets in this increasingly competitive district.