Bobby Pulido, a Tejano musician running as a Democrat for the House, has left his Republican opponent struggling to match his star power in a district that President Trump won easily in 2024. Bobby Pulido is running for a House seat anchored in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. President Trump won the district by 18 percentage points in 2024, but it is now seen as competitive.

As a standard-bearer of the Tejano genre, Mr. Pulido is bringing the glam and allure of pop music to a high-stakes political campaign. His prominence and moderate platform have created an unusual challenge for his Republican opponent, Representative Monica De La Cruz. Mr. Pulido has tried to expand his popularity by performing for free at more than 70 quinceañeras, weddings and other events in his district, a tactic he adopted in response to a dig from his opponent.