HIDALGO, Texas — Bobby Pulido is finding the political arena to be a tougher spotlight than his career in music stardom.
For several months, the Latin Grammy-winning singer and local celebrity has been in the news due to persistent headlines exploring his past professional ties with a former bandmate imprisoned for child sex offenses. He also faces scrutiny over past social media posts containing racial, sexist, and homophobic slurs.
In a recent interview with POLITICO, following a voter meet-and-greet at the stadium where he last performed in November 2025, Pulido was defensive about the controversies surrounding his campaign.
“I apologize right now,” Pulido stated regarding his social media remarks. “I’ll tell you right now, so you never have to ask me again. I apologize for anything I’ve joked about that offended anyone. But I can’t keep revisiting every single one.”
Pulido maintained he did nothing wrong in his professional relationship with Frankie Caballero, asserting he was unaware of the accordionist’s child molestation charges. He anticipates opponents will “keep dripping, dripping, dripping” with new social media posts.
“I’ve been an open book for 30 years,” he said. “I was on Twitter long before I thought about running for office. They’re going to keep digging up old tweets, and there are many I’m embarrassed about. I’ve publicly apologized for jokes I’ve made that make me cringe.”
Pulido is a key recruit for House Democrats, aiming to turn the lower chamber’s control. Known in Texas’ 15th District for his music career, he hopes to leverage voter dissatisfaction in his challenge against GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a redrawn district that Donald Trump won by 18 points in 2024.
Recent polls indicate the race is close or favoring Pulido, largely due to his widespread name recognition. However, political newcomers like him are untested, and fresh revelations can dominate news cycles and impact their prospects.
The New York Post initially reported in April on Pulido’s connection to Caballero, a registered sex offender jailed for indecent contact with a young girl. Pulido said he first learned of Caballero’s charges through the Post. His campaign stated the singer’s management cut ties with Caballero after a domestic abuse charge in 2021.
Pulido recounted asking Caballero about his imprisonment and was told it was for “transferring illegal aliens.” Pulido added he was aware of Caballero’s substance abuse issues and parole violations. (Pulido’s campaign informed the Texas Tribune in July that Pulido only knew of Caballero’s addiction struggles.)
In June, Axios reported Caballero played with Pulido at a 2018 middle school benefit concert after his release from prison. Pulido expressed regret about Caballero’s involvement there, given his current knowledge.
“Without knowing, it’s hard for me to say that,” he shared. “Now that I know, yes. I wish I hadn’t brought him there.”
Attempts to reach Caballero for comment were unsuccessful.
Pulido’s previous social media posts also continue to trouble his political aspirations. Between 2013 and 2018, he used homophobic and sexist slurs in Spanish, which translate to derogatory terms in English. He also used “prieto,” a term many find derogatory for dark-skinned individuals. These posts were first reported by NBC News and reviewed by POLITICO. In a 2013 post, Pulido joked that Mexican actor Mauricio Islas “isn’t a f-g, respect him. His boyfriend is.”
Islas, who is partnered with a woman, did not provide a comment.
Pulido explained to POLITICO that some remarks were jokes among friends. “That’s how we joke. I’d never say that to a stranger,” he said.
He defended the racial term as a cultural misunderstanding. “In our culture, we call each other that. It’s similar to Black people using the n-word with each other,” he explained, adding, “They want to make it seem like I’m telling a stranger that. That’s not what it is.”
“I’m not making excuses,” Pulido continued. “Would you apologize to a friend you joke with, who isn’t offended? I don’t feel I should apologize to them because they’re my friends.”
This isn’t the first time Pulido has shown irritation over questions about past posts, arguing they distract from important issues like affordability and immigration. He criticized the New York Post for reaching out about other controversial posts. “We’ve been getting the same recycled tabloid nonsense since last October,” he stated in a July video posted to his social media.
“And for any reporter who keeps asking,” he added in Spanish, “que no mamen, Kool-Aids. Now go translate that.” The phrase roughly translates to “don’t be jerks, assholes” or “don’t be stupid, assholes.”
De La Cruz’s campaign aims to capitalize on these issues. James Shook, her campaign manager, criticized Pulido as a “product of the corrupt compadre system that protects itself while everyone else looks away.”
Press releases from De La Cruz’s campaign highlight inconsistencies in Pulido’s statements. They mention Pulido’s claim to The Monitor that he fired Caballero in 1996, despite Caballero appearing on albums through 1999. Pulido claimed in a 2019 podcast he helped Caballero get out of jail, which he later described to Bloomberg as “hyperbolic” and a “misspeak.”
“Bobby Pulido brought a man convicted of molesting a young girl to a middle school event in this community, hiding his sex offender status from parents,” Shook remarked. “He toured with this person for years and is recorded bragging about bailing him out of jail. The question remains: why did he think he could get away with it?”
However, signs indicate voters are growing desensitized to scandals. A new POLITICO Poll reveals many voters, both Republican and Democrat, would still support their preferred candidate even if they accepted gifts from lobbyists, exploited tax loopholes, or made antisemitic remarks. Democrats were less forgiving of sexual violence and assault accusations. The poll did not cover past use of homophobic or gender slurs or relationships with sex offenders.
Many of Pulido’s supporters, familiar with his family, dismiss the headlines.
Esmeralda Knapp, a McAllen hairstylist, supports Pulido because his uncle, a former county judge, helped release her brother from prison years ago. Bob Villarreal, a retired teacher in Edinburg, recalls when Pulido’s father, also a musician, substitute-taught his orchestra class. Maria Dominguez, who runs a wellness club in McAllen, calls Pulido “a good person” due to his family: “They are hardworking people, good people raised in the valley.”
Villarreal downplayed Pulido’s connection to Caballero. “It wasn’t Bobby,” he said. “It may matter to some, but to me, it’s someone else.”
“It’s guilt by association,” added Patricia Villarreal, his wife.
