Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning singer now running as the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, has seen old behavior and social posts stir fresh controversy in a tight race. A 2010 music video and a string of vulgar social media entries have become focal points for critics who question judgment and fitness to represent conservative South Texas voters. The resurfaced material has focused attention on past conduct, public language, and where Pulido stands on basic standards of respect.
Pulido’s entertainment background is part of his public identity, but it’s also where much of the controversy began. In a 2010 music video for “Dias de Ayer,” he portrays a character wrapped in a red blanket who appears to engage in indecent actions and to expose himself to a woman seated next to him on a plane. For a candidate trying to win over a district that values family and decency, that footage has proven awkward and politically risky.
International scrutiny followed the video’s release, with questions raised about Pulido’s personal life and how he handled those questions publicly. He once told the press, “People are opening up more. I can even tell you that when I started my career, I saw the whole situation (of gays) very differently. At first, they said I was gay; there were rumors that I was like that,” in comments echoed during the earlier stages of his career. Those remarks and the attention around them have been replayed by opponents as voters weigh character alongside policy.
Social media history has supplied more material for critics to use. Pulido posted “Igualmente amigo, no homo” on his personal X account in 2019, a phrase that many saw as flippant and insensitive. He also taunted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli in 2015 with the line, “Don’t drop the soap a–hole,” a crude barb that reflects poorly on a candidate seeking office.
When Pulido announced his run last fall, campaign season scrutiny brought additional posts back into view. Resurfaced entries linked to explicit sites and one post appeared to show him urinating on a public monument, an act that undercuts claims of good judgment and respect for civic norms. Voters watching a high-profile contest expect candidates to meet basic standards of public behavior, and these items have fueled questions about whether Pulido meets that bar.
Pulido’s attacks on former President Donald Trump have also been strikingly vulgar at times, drawing sharp reactions from conservatives and independents alike. He shared the Spanish translation of “f— your mother” and wrote, “I’d like to give you the biggest ‘f— you,’ you piece of s—, a–hole, d— head, son of a b—-,” in another post. Those posts are now part of the record and will be replayed during campaign season as voters evaluate tone and temperament.
Beyond the insults and crude jokes, Pulido has occasionally framed himself as a cultural nomad, describing himself as a “winter Texan” for spending large stretches of the year in Mexico. That depiction has been used by critics to question his ties to constituents and commitment to the district he now seeks to represent. Opponents argue that residency patterns matter when assessing who truly understands local priorities.
The contest pits Pulido against incumbent Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Texas, a two-term Republican who has built a profile on conservative values and border security. For Republican voters and undecided constituents in the 15th District, these revelations have sharpened the contrast between an incumbent with a clear record and a challenger whose past conduct keeps resurfacing. The campaign is shaping up to be as much about character and tone as it is about policy positions.
Campaigns inevitably dig into histories, and Pulido’s past as an entertainer now intersects with a very different kind of scrutiny. Voters will decide whether his musical success and celebrity translate into the character and judgment they want in a member of Congress. For many in this district, the question is less about talent and more about whether a nominee models a standard of conduct they can support.
Graduate Student, wife, engaged political and legal writer.