In an Interview With Politico, Pulido Apologized for the Posts But Said He Won't Keep Revisiting Them

HIDALGO, Texas — Bobby Pulido, the Latin Grammy-winning singer running for Congress in Texas' 15th District, is pushing back against controversies that have dogged his campaign, including his past ties to a bandmate imprisoned on child molestation charges and old social media posts containing slurs. In an interview with POLITICO, Pulido apologized for the posts but said he won't keep revisiting them. He also denied knowing about Frankie Caballero's sex crimes, saying he learned of them from a New York Post report in April.

Pulido, a Democratic recruit, is challenging GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a district Trump won by 18 points in 2024. Recent polls show the race tight or Pulido ahead, boosted by his name recognition. Pulido said he regrets having Caballero perform at a 2018 middle school benefit, but only with hindsight. He defended his use of the racial term "prieto" as cultural, comparing it to Black people using the n-word among themselves.