Bobby Pulido, the Latin Grammy-Winning Tejano Singer, Wins a Texas House Seat

A Latin Grammy winner has won a seat in Congress. Bobby Pulido, the norteño-tejano singer who announced in late 2024 that he was retiring from music to pursue politics, won Texas’ 15th Congressional District in Tuesday’s (Nov. 3) midterm elections, defeating Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz, Billboard reports. The Democrat’s win flips the seat.

“Thank you South Texas. Tonight we made history,” Pulido, 53, said in a statement, per USA Today. He went on:

For over 30 years, you played my music at your weddings, your quinceañeras and your carne asadas, and the past year you welcomed me into those same celebrations on the campaign trail. Tonight, you trusted me with something even bigger than a song, you trusted me with your future and I will work hard everyday to honor it.

Bobby Pulido, Billboard

According to USA Today, via Billboard, he campaigned on affordability, health care, getting corporate money out of elections and the effects of the Trump administration’s mass deportation raids, and he did it at concerts, weddings and graduation parties. The race went viral after De La Cruz said it was not about “who you want performing at your niece’s quinceañeras.”

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The music career is long. Pulido was born in Edinburg, Texas, the son of Tex-Mex singer Roberto Pulido, and his 1995 debut album Desvelado produced his first Billboard chart entry, “No Sé Por Qué,” which peaked at No. 32 on Hot Latin Songs. He has released 15 more albums since, with hits including “Te Voy a Amar,” “Se Murió de Amor” and “Enséñame,” Billboard says. Rolling Stone notes his Latin Grammys came for best tejano album in 2022, for Para Que Baile Mi Pueblo, and again in 2025, and Billboard says he is nominated for the category again this year.

Rolling Stone says he had decided before the vote to give up music, and told the magazine last month that he would be “perfectly comfortable never having a concert again.” Then he added, “I’m putting a karaoke machine in my house.” He said he could “maybe potentially” do a benefit concert in the future to raise money for causes that matter to him.

The Latin Grammys, where he is nominated, are set for Thursday, Nov. 12, in Las Vegas. The nominations and the first performers are in our earlier coverage.