Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
Weslaco, Texas – A political campaign rally in Weslaco on December 19, 2025, brought together congressional candidate Bobby Pulido and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, who publicly endorsed each other and outlined their campaigns for federal office. The event was hosted in South Texas and opened with remarks from local Democratic Party Chairman Richard Gonzales, followed by speeches from both candidates.
Pulido is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, seeking to represent a South Texas congressional district currently held by Republican incumbent Monica de la Cruz. Talarico is running for the United States Senate, challenging the sitting Republican U.S. senator from Texas, John Cornyn.
Pulido introduced Talarico to the crowd by saying, “Hello, Weslaco. It’s good to be here with you tonight as we host the man who wants to be your next senator, Mr. James Talerico.” He then described his own background, saying, “Most of you know me as Bobby Pulido, the singer, but I am Jose Roberto Pulido Jr., son of a migrant farm worker, Roberto Pulido from Edinburg, Texas.”
Pulido spoke at length about his family and upbringing, crediting his parents for shaping his values. He described his father as “a man who, through hard work, humility, and the grace of God, became a pioneer in the Tejano music industry and lifted his entire family out of poverty.” He also spoke about his mother, saying she “held our family together” and taught him “dignity, resilience, and never letting anyone forget where we come from.”
Explaining why he is running for Congress, Pulido said, “I wanna use my voice for a different purpose, because we’re in a new moment, and I can’t stand by.” He argued that many families are struggling, saying, “We’re being buried in debt. We’re being priced out of healthcare where a trip to the doctor feels like a luxury, and a single medical bill can wreck a family’s future.”
Pulido framed his campaign as a challenge to entrenched political power, stating, “We have a broken political system captured by corporations and fueled by corruption, a system that keeps working people struggling while the powerful get richer and richer.” He told the audience, “What we need are leaders who fight for the people, not the highest bidders.”
He emphasized that his campaign is not centered on party loyalty, saying, “I’m not team red, I’m not team blue. South Texas, I’m team you.” He added, “I’m running not for power, not for fame, but to give every family a fair shot at success.”
Pulido also addressed immigration and border policy, saying, “In South Texas, we believe in two sacred things, work and family.” He argued for a balanced approach, stating, “Yes, we can secure the border. Yes, we can go after criminals, but we can do it without targeting grandmas, gardeners, and hardworking families. We can have security and compassion. We don’t have to choose.”
Near the end of his remarks, Pulido formally endorsed Talarico for the Senate. “I am proud to endorse James Talarico’s candidacy for United States Senate,” he said, adding, “Together, we’re gonna flip this state and change the direction of our country.”
After Pulido concluded, Talarico took the stage and returned the endorsement. He praised Pulido’s background and connection to the region, saying, “Bobby Pulido’s story is a South Texas story — hard work, faith, family, and never giving up.” He continued, “He understands this district because he is this district.”
Talarico, who currently serves as a state legislator representing Texas House District 50—which is located entirely in Travis County and covers central and northeast Austin—and is running for the U.S. Senate, endorsed Pulido’s congressional campaign by saying, “I’m proud to endorse Bobby Pulido for Congress and excited to work alongside him to deliver real results for our communities.”
Both candidates presented their campaigns as focused on working-class families in South Texas and positioned themselves as alternatives to the Republican incumbents they seek to unseat.
