Bobby Pulido Wins Democratic Primary in Texas' 15th District

Centrist Democrat defeats progressive challenger in competitive primary race

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Bobby Pulido, a moderate Democrat and Latin Grammy Award-winning Tejano singer, won his House primary race on Tuesday in South Texas, defeating Ada Cuellar, an emergency room doctor who challenged his center-left views on abortion and his connections to the Democratic establishment. Pulido will now face off against Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in the November midterm election.

Why it matters

The competitive primary race became a proxy for whether voters wanted to elevate a centrist who traditionalists say can win socially conservative voters or swing to the left at a time when the wind is at Democrats' back. The outcome could impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

The details

Pulido, who supports a secure border but opposes agents going after otherwise law-abiding immigrants, wants to expand health care and do away with some tariffs that hurt industries like agriculture. Cuellar, who had the endorsement of a Democratic firebrand running for Senate, promised to work to legalize abortion, expand access to health care, and push for federal immigration authorities to confine enforcement actions to criminals.

  • On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Bobby Pulido won the Democratic primary in Texas' 15th Congressional District.
  • Pulido will face off against Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in the November 2026 midterm election.

The players

Bobby Pulido

A moderate Democrat and Latin Grammy Award-winning Tejano singer who won the Democratic primary in Texas' 15th Congressional District.

Ada Cuellar

An emergency room doctor who challenged Pulido's center-left views on abortion and his connections to the Democratic establishment in the Democratic primary.

Monica De La Cruz

The Republican incumbent in Texas' 15th Congressional District, who favors President Trump's tough immigration laws and other conservative views.

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What’s next

Pulido will face off against Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in the November 2026 midterm election.

The takeaway

The outcome of the Democratic primary in Texas' 15th Congressional District highlights the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over whether to prioritize centrist or progressive candidates, particularly in socially conservative regions. The result could have significant implications for the balance of power in the House of Representatives.