Current Affairs Of Pakistan & World: Democrats’ Tejano star sings to swing South Texas

Democrats’ Tejano star sings to swing South Texas

Oct 18, 2026

Presented by JPMorganChase

With help from Eli Okun and Irie Sentner

Good Sunday afternoon. This is Ali Bianco, writing in from an uncharacteristically chilly weekend in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. Where’s the best lunch spot in McAllen? Get in touch.

DRIVING THE DAY

Bobby Pulido performs his final show

Bobby Pulido performs his final show, "La Ultima Desvelada," at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas on Oct. 17, 2026. | Ali Bianco/POLITICO

EDINBURG, Texas — A man walks out to a packed arena filled with fervent fans. Nostalgic music blasts out over the speakers as those on hand to see the spectacle sway and sing along. Firehouse-red campaign hats litter the heads of the devotees jammed in tight to see the show.

But this isn’t a MAGA rally, and that’s not Donald Trump hitting the stage.

On stage is Bobby Pulido, the Tejano music star turned Democratic House candidate clad in head-to-toe leather and a black cowboy hat. The occasion? “La Ultima Desvelada,” what he says will be his final concert.

Pulido is trying to flip a district that has steadily, over the past decade, slipped from the grasp of the Democratic Party and became the ultimate swing test for the country’s most culturally conservative Latino voters.

If Pulido wins in Texas’ 15th District against incumbent GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz, the Democratic Party stands to gain much more here than just a seat that could make a House majority. Trump won the district by a staggering 18 points in 2024 — and it was redrawn by Republicans last year. As the party looks to rebuild with Latinos and lay the groundwork for 2028, the Tejano crooner could become a strong messenger to one of Democrats’ weakest voting blocs.

“Mexican-American men haven't really felt like they have a home,” in either party, Pulido told POLITICO in an interview. “It almost feels like the Latino man wants to be that provider, and he can’t fulfill that right now.”

With just over two weeks to go, Pulido is in a dead heat against De La Cruz. He’s leaving behind three decades as a musician, multiple Latin Grammys and packed arenas for a shot at representing his hometown in the halls of Congress.

That fame, and his deep district ties, made Pulido one of the party’s most prized recruits this cycle. He’s one of the DCCC’s top candidates, with a campaign staffed in part by blue dog organizations like The Bench while also boasting the same Latino consultants as Ruben Gallego’s 2024 Senate campaign. (Multiple staffers for The Bench descended on the RGV for the event, riding horses and making their best attempts at dancing to a cumbia rhythm during the concert.)

Democrats see potential in the kind of surrogate Pulido could become on the 2028 campaign trail. Many of the party’s biggest Latino voices — and attention grabbers — are further on the left.

“What we haven't had is someone like Bobby Pulido, who’s going to come from the moderate wing of the party, that is going to be a rock star,” Gallego told POLITICO.

A message from JPMorganChase:

Investing in America’s strength

Through the Security and Resiliency Initiative, JPMorganChase is helping finance and invest in critical industries that strengthen America's economic resilience. Learn more.

Pulido knows if he pulls off the win, potential 2028 hopefuls will come flocking, asking him how to win over the Rio Grande Valley.

“Bobby’s politics are different from the way that we have branded ourselves nationally as a party, but I think that's a good thing,” said Melissa Morales of Somos PAC, which has poured millions into Pulido’s race.

Could he see himself backing 2028 presidential candidates if he wins? They’ll have to convince Pulido first. “I will hold any type of endorsement or anything very close to my chest, and I will definitely make sure that I get behind somebody that has a policy that resonates with Hispanics,” Pulido said.

But Pulido’s campaign has been marred by scandal. He’s taken heat for crude social media posts about women and gay people. Frankie Caballero, one of his former bandmates, was convicted as a child sex offender. Pulido has denied knowledge of Caballero’s history. He was defensive over his past, but apologized for his social media posts in an interview with POLITICO.

De La Cruz’s campaign has made Pulido’s ties to Caballero a staple of attacks. “Latinas are choosing Monica De La Cruz, a working mom fighting for their families, over a corrupt scumbag celebrity who will make life more expensive and already put a predator back on the streets because he likes his accordion,” James Shook, De La Cruz’s campaign manager, said in a statement.

With hundreds flocking to Bert Ogden Arena to witness his final show, the attacks do not seem to have dimmed Pulido’s popularity. Multiple voters in attendance who spoke with POLITICO said they had heard the allegations about Pulido and his accordionist, but none said it was affecting their vote.

The economy and immigration dominated the reasons why voters in the crowd pledged their support for the singer. The cost of living has gotten “re pe caro” — super expensive — Frank Trevino, a Democrat from Edinburg, told POLITICO. He knew Pulido’s mother and remembered Bobby as a kid.

Pulido’s final show was the talk of Edinburg, from the hallways of the nearby inns to the post-concert stop at Whataburger. Clocking in at nearly two hours, it served as a greatest hits replay for the past 30 years of his life — and a trip down memory lane for many of the voters who grew up with him. “Of course I’m emotional, but I’m leaving with no regrets,” Pulido said from the stage. (He’s up for yet another Latin Grammy recognition this year.)

With early voting kicking off on Monday, Pulido sharpened his closing pitch: He’s not for Democrats or Republicans — he’s for his district.

“I want to give something back to the place that’s given me so much,” Pulido said. “And if you give me the honor of representing you in Congress, I give you my word that I’ll never forget where I came from.”

Read the full story here

A message from JPMorganChase:

SUNDAY BEST …

— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the U.S. resuming intelligence sharing with Ukraine, on NBC’s “Meet the Press”: “It was blocked for some period of time. And then it was deblocked by the American side. We are very thankful for this. Now it works. … Our information we got, our intelligence, from Europeans and other partners. We have dozens of countries who help. But only United States has this unique intelligence to tell our side when Russia uses ballistic missiles. And we didn't get it during ballistic attacks during three days.”

— Speaker Mike Johnson on reports of the Trump administration waiving the Russia sanctions passed by Congress, and concerns from the GOP, on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures”: “So I did talk to several of my colleagues yesterday who had concerns about that. … And I didn't talk to the president yesterday, because he and I are both traveling nonstop and we were on different schedules. But I told the White House team that we need to talk about it and I think carefully consider the unintended consequences that may ensue from that. … He thinks outside the box with creative ideas all the time, and he carefully evaluates those. So I think the right decision will be made here in the end.”

7 THINGS FOR YOUR RADAR

1. IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID: POLITICO Magazine is out with its affordability issue, a sweeping collection of stories touching every corner of the cost of living and how it’s shaping politics. Start your day with POLITICO’s Liz Crampton’s conversation with Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who argues the Trump administration “scorched it all” on affordability with the war in Iran. “H.R. 1, the war with Iran, trade wars with Canada and horrible tariff policies. Those are the biggest headwinds that we’re facing in Virginia,” she told Liz. More inside the issue …

Food for thought: The magazine presents a range of 26 ideas, from the smart to the silly, about how to tackle the affordability questions no politician can avoid this election cycle. And it’s interactive.

On the numbers: The latest POLITICO Poll shows six in 10 people said the government should prioritize bringing prices down, rather than increasing household incomes. Read the poll

It’s all a scheme: POLITICO’s Marcia Brown and Steve Volk tackle the conspiracy theory that the country’s biggest egg producers colluded on inflated bids that artificially drove up prices — and how the cranks were right.

The new frontier: POLITICO’s Victoria Guida wades into the new money making moves sweeping households across the country — by way of easy to access gambling platforms. “But Washington bears responsibility too: Economic and political realities shaped by decisions here seem to be greasing the skids for potentially destructive financial behaviors,” Victoria writes.

Fact check: Trump promoted several suspiciously cheap gas stations in Pennsylvania and south New Jersey as voters clamor about prices. Was it legal? POLITICO’s Kathy Gilsinan and James Bikales dive into the details.

And last but not least: POLITICO’s Sam Sutton looks at why the affordability crisis may not be solvable at all.

2. GOING SOUTH: Raphael Warnock is pushing to get Democrat Scott Colom elected in deep-red Mississippi. It’s part of his bigger bet on the South as the Georgia Democrat eyes a potential 2028 presidential bid, POLITICO’s Alec Hernandez reports from Jackson, Mississippi. Colom is within striking distance in the polls of unseating Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. And in the absence of more dedicated resources, Warnock is trying to fill the gap. He has raised over $500,000 directly into Colom’s campaign committee, according to a person with direct knowledge of his efforts, granted anonymity to share private details. And, over the course of four separate fundraisers, he's tried to steer Senate Democrats’ top donors to the race.

3. TRUMP BACKS BIBI: Trump today in a post on Truth Social endorsed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, “giving the embattled Israeli leader a boost nine days before a hard-fought parliamentary election,” NYT’s Tyler Pager and Aaron Boxerman write. “Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel, itself,” Trump wrote. “Relations between Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu have become increasingly tense, particularly over the nations’ joint war against Iran. But in his endorsement Mr. Trump called Mr. Netanyahu a ‘Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran,’” NYT notes.

A message from JPMorganChase:

4. 2028 WATCH: As he weighs a presidential campaign, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is putting the finishing touches on one of the potential 2028 field's best midterm scorecards: Kelly has backed 74 candidates and campaigned in 16 states, all while laying down $14.1 million for Democrats this cycle. Now, his midterm mission will take him to stops across five states, including the early Democratic nominating states Nevada, New Mexico and New Hampshire. He'll also hit Maine, where he'll stump for Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, and his home state, where tomorrow he’ll stump alongside 18 endorsed state legislative candidates.

5. TOP TALKER: “Dispute Between Trump Allies Centers on Millions Transferred From Congo,” by NYT’s Tyler Pager and Anatoly Kurmanaev: “The White House investigation into a dispute between two prominent Trump supporters, Richard Grenell and Alina Habba Mildon, centers on a bank transfer from the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Texas defense company … Mrs. Mildon, a former personal lawyer for President Trump, stormed into the Oval Office last week accusing Mr. Grenell of siphoning millions of dollars from a business transaction in 2025 organized by a Turkish investor who later became her husband. … Mr. Grenell denied all accusations, calling them absurd. Mr. and Mrs. Mildon didn’t respond to requests for comment. The White House also did not respond.”

6. JUST VANCE: VP JD Vance fielded questions directly from voters on immigration, data centers, high costs and his own comments during CBS’ town hall last night. He told voters that “of course” there’s a chance he doesn’t run for president, and was grilled with multiple questions on the Iran war and how it’s impacted gas prices. On immigration, Vance said “we’re trying to strike the right balance.” More takeaways from AP’s Michelle Price

7. TRAIL MIX: Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz is moving across the state stumping for Ken Paxton and pouring money into his campaign, trying to rally together the GOP base to turn out in the increasingly competitive Senate race, WaPo’s Matthew Choi reports from the Woodlands. But Cruz’s involvement could prove critical as the senator weighs a possible presidential bid, and carries serious risk if Paxton loses.

Over in Nevada, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) isn’t voting for the Trump-endorsed Republican vying to replace him, citing stolen valor accusations and other misgivings that made him an “absolutely not,” POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill reports. “I think the seat’s at risk,” Amodei said.

TALK OF THE TOWN

WHAT A PICTURE’S WORTH — “Zacharia posts altered photos of Trump’s Oval Office desk,” by WaPo’s Dan Diamond and Rick Maese: “Katie Zacharia, who was ousted as White House press secretary on Friday, posted two photos that day that appear to have been digitally modified to conceal an image on President Donald Trump’s Oval Office desk. … Local advocacy groups said that the image appeared to be East Potomac Park, where Trump wants to make major changes to a federally owned golf course — an initiative that is the subject of a lawsuit.”

PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — Trump took to Truth Social this morning and announced plans for the redevelopment of the East Potomac Golf Links. Restoration work on the course will begin Nov. 15, and will take 15 months, Trump wrote. “When completed, it will be open to the Public while, at the same time, designed to the Highest Level of Golf and able to hold World Class Tournaments such as the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and the Presidents Cup.”

WEEKEND WEDDING — Byron Tau, a national security reporter at ProPublica, on Friday married Alicia Rose, an associate at King and Spaulding, in a ceremony and reception at Birkby House in Leesburg, Va. The couple met at the White House more than a decade ago covering a state dinner. SPOTTED: Tim Mak, Sahil Kapur, Asawin Suebsaeng and Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Dustin Volz, Tarini Parti, Caitlin Piper, Ryan Barber, Kevin Robillard, Francesca Chambers and Michael Moroney, Miranda Green, Andy Thompson and Mina Pullmann.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Gavin Wax, chief of staff for public diplomacy and public affairs at the State Department, and Chelsea Wax recently welcomed Renwick William Wax, who joins big brother Roman. Pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) … POLITICO’s Ben Johansen … NYT’s Annie Karni … former SEC Chair Gary Gensler … Puck’s Julia Ioffe … Makese Motley … Brunswick Group’s Michael Krempasky … Babs Chase … Jordan Cox of the White House … Jon Decker … J Loft Company’s Jake Loft … Marc Ginsberg … Janae Stracke … Edelman’s Trisch Smith … Marion Smith of Common Sense Society … former Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) … Martha Burk … Netflix’s Caitlin Conant … Bloomberg’s Matt Shirley … Andrew Millman … former Reps. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), Chris Shays (R-Conn.) and Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) … Beau Salant of Impact Research … Sahil Jain

Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here.

Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editors Giuseppe Macri, Garrett Ross and Kyler Alvord.