Bobby Pulido defeats Republican Monica De La Cruz in Texas House race

Democratic candidate Bobby Pulido has defeated Republican Representative Monica De La Cruz in the race for Texas's 15th Congressional District, according to the New York Post and The Hill. The Texas Tribune also reported that Pulido declared victory over the incumbent congresswoman in the South Texas seat. [1][8][10]

The New York Post reported that De La Cruz lost her bid for a third term in the House following a competitive race. The outlet noted that the redrawn district became competitive as support for Donald Trump among Hispanic voters slipped due to economic concerns and reaction to immigration raids. De La Cruz was the most prominent Hispanic House Republican candidate in the state. [1]

The New York Post also reported that controversy surrounded the campaign in April, when exposure of Pulido's ties to a registered sex offender who was a former bandmate disrupted the contest. Pulido is a popular Tejano musician who previously sang at numerous quinceañeras. [1][8]

The loss marks a major pickup for Democrats in battleground Texas, where the Republican party had redrawn congressional boundaries earlier in the year in an effort to decrease the number of Democratic seats in the state. [1][10]