Tejano singer Bobby Pulido defeated Republican congresswoman Monica De La Cruz in the November 3 U.S. legislative elections, reclaiming Texas’s 15th District for the Democrats. With 95% of votes counted, provisional results reported by the Associated Press showed Pulido leading by 62.32% to 37.68%, a margin of more than 20 percentage points. The win ended four years of Republican representation in a district Donald Trump carried by 18 points in 2024.

Pulido, 53, has spent more than three decades building a career in South Texas, where Tejano and Tex-Mex music are closely connected to Mexican American cultural traditions. At his victory celebration, he recalled that people had played his music at weddings, quinceañeras and family cookouts.

That connection also became part of his campaign. After De La Cruz said the race should not be reduced to choosing a singer for a niece’s quinceañera, Pulido emphasized the celebrations’ role as a community tradition and invited residents of the district to ask him to perform. His campaign received more than 1,000 requests in its first 24 hours and later surpassed 2,700, including invitations for birthdays, bar mitzvahs and graduations, according to The Texas Tribune.

Born José Roberto Pulido Jr., Bobby grew up in a family rooted in Tejano music. His father, Roberto Pulido, is one of the genre’s pioneers, and the two recorded “Contigo” together as Bobby began his musical career. In 1995, Pulido released his first album, “Desvelado.” He has since put out more than a dozen albums and won two Latin Grammys for Best Tejano Album, in 2022 and 2025.

These 10 songs trace key points in his career:

1. “Desvelado” (1995)

The title track of Pulido’s debut album launched him to success and established him as a rising figure in Tejano music. It remains one of the best-known songs in his catalog and a regular part of his concerts.

2. “Se murió de amor” (1996)

Released on his second album, “Enséñame,” the song helped strengthen Pulido’s presence in the Tejano scene. The record also featured “La rosa” and “Enséñame.”

3. “Enséñame” (1996)

The song that gave his second album its name also highlights Pulido’s role as a songwriter. It became a recurring part of his performances and has appeared on his greatest-hits compilations.

4. “Le pediré” (1997)

Included on “Llegaste a mi vida,” Pulido’s third studio album, the track was among the songs from that period later featured on his 1998 live recording in Monterrey, Mexico.

5. “Llegaste a mi vida” (1997)

The title song from his third album arrived after Pulido had released two records in two years. He performed it again at the Monterrey concert recorded in 1998, and it remained part of his repertoire.

6. “La rosa” (1996)

Another standout from “Enséñame,” the song appeared on the Monterrey live album and later on “En Vivo desde Las Vegas,” reflecting its long presence in Pulido’s catalog.

7. “A tu lado” (2001)

Pulido wrote this track for “Siempre pensando en ti,” an album that marked a new phase in his discography. In 2025, he performed it again for the project “Bobby Pulido & Friends” with Mexican regional singer Majo Aguilar.

8. “Vanidosa” (2002)

The lead single from the album “Bobby” introduced tropical elements alongside the Tejano influences of Pulido’s earlier records. It remains a recognizable song from that period and continues to feature in his live shows.

9. “Vive” (2005)

The title track of Pulido’s 2005 album joined a repertoire built over his first decade in music. He included it in the live recording made in Las Vegas in 2020.

10. “Ojalá te animes” (2005)

Pulido has kept the song in his repertoire, including on “En Vivo desde Las Vegas.” In recent years, he has also recorded it with other performers, among them Bronco and Los Rojos.

Sources: El País Cultura.