Why this Tejano star-turned-Democratic candidate backs James Talarico

Tejano star Bobby Pulido, a Democrat who is looking to flip back Texas' 15th Congressional District, is backing James Talarico even if he doesn't agree with everything the Democratic Senate nominee has said.

"Look, do I agree 100% with James Talarico? Newsflash: No, and it's okay," Pulido told USA TODAY. 

In an interview with USA TODAY, Pulido said he doesn’t align with Talarico’s comments referring to God being "nonbinary," as well as the Central Texas lawmaker's remarks made in a Texas House committee meeting during discussion on a bill that sought to require student athletes to play in sports that correspond with the sex on their birth certificates. Talarico said during those remarks that "modern science" recognizes "more than two biological sexes."

"In fact, there are six, which honestly, Rep. Hefner, surprised me, too," Talarico said.

Talarico, who is going up against Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas’ closely watched Senate race, recently said he regrets his past "cringey" comments in an interview with CBS News.

"Would I think God is nonbinary? That would not be the language that I would use. I don’t believe that," Pulido said. "Do I think there are six genders? I don’t know where that comes from, I don’t think so. But here’s the thing, do I think he would be an infinitely better senator than Ken Paxton?" He answers "absolutely," with an expletive added for emphasis.

Pulido and Talarico first endorsed each other back in December at a rally in Weslaco, Texas, a city in the state's southern region in the Rio Grande Valley, before either had won their primaries to become the Democratic nominee for the respective elections.

Pulido, a native of the Rio Grande Valley, is looking to unseat Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a two-term GOP congresswoman in that same region who helped flip the region from a Democratic stronghold to Republican. With the district recently redrawn, the "Desvelado" singer hopes to win the largely Latino area back for Democrats. 

A Latin Grammy Award-winning singer, Pulido first launched his campaign in September 2025. His campaign has seen national attention after he began campaigning as quinceañeras after De La Cruz said "this election isn’t about who you want performing at your niece’s quinceañera."

Pulido isn't the only Texas candidate locked in a tight race. Talarico is going head-to-head with Paxton in a closely watched, competitive race. In recent weeks, Republicans, including Paxton and President Donald Trump, have painted the Democrat as out of touch and too radical for the Lone Star state — hitting him on his remarks on religion, LGBTQ rights, and falsely claiming he’s vegan.

"I’m my own man. I believe in my own beliefs," Pulido said. "I think probably James on many issues would be a little to the left of me, but I still think he’s a very effective legislator and I do think he’s a good person." 

"I’ve gotten to know him. He’s a good person. I happily will endorse him over somebody who is not a good person," Pulido said.

Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Joey Garrison