Eyes are on Texas’ 15th Congressional District where Republicans are trying to hold on to Latino voters along the border.
Tejano music star Bobby Pulido is challenging incumbent Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz in the midterm election.
De la Torre is seeking a third term in office. She comfortably won the majority Hispanic district in 2022 touting President Trump’s policies.
TX-15 district includes about 300 miles from the Rio Grande Valley on the border to rural counties on the edge of San Antonio. About 81% of the population is Hispanic.
Analysts are now calling the race a toss-up. But several polls have indicated Pulido has a slight lead and one poll has Pulido up by 7 points over De La Cruz.
Pulido is staying away from party labels as he appeals to moderate and independent voters focusing on immigration reform, affordability, and healthcare.
The Tejano star has taken his campaign beyond traditional rallies to Friday night football games and he’s performed at nearly 100 quinceaneras, after De La Cruz made a jab about the race not being about who constituents want singing at their quinces.
De La Cruz is trying to sell voters on her record in Congress as a staunch supporter of President Trump on border security.
As ICE cracks down in this border region and voters question aggressive tactics used by agents carrying out Trump’s mass deportation plan, De La Cruz is also trying to appeal to voters in mixed status families. One of her campaign ad features the wife of a DACA recipient detained by ICE earlier this year.
She also promises to expand affordable healthcare amid federal cuts under the Trump administration. And amid the cost of food and fuel she vows to fight to lower grocery prices.
The TX-15 race will test whether South Texas voters on the border who voted for Republicans in large numbers in 2024 will turnout again for De la Cruz.
Or will those with buyer’s remorse about the Trump administration hand Democrat Pulido a victory?
This story is published in collaboration with Factcheaudado and Puente News Collaborative, a bilingual nonprofit newsroom and funder dedicated to high-quality, fact-based news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border. KTEP News is a founding member of Puente News Collaborative.
