Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido, a Latin Grammy-winning Tejano singer running in Texas’ 15th District, has drawn renewed attention for a 2018 onstage performance with Mexican star Julión Álvarez, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2017 under the Kingpin Act before being removed from the list in 2022.
Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido is facing criticism over a past onstage appearance with Mexican regional music star Julión Álvarez, who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2017 under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
Pulido, a Tejano singer and the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, performed with Álvarez in October 2018, according to reporting by The Daily Wire. The outlet cited a video of the appearance that Pulido posted on Facebook and described him referring to Álvarez using the Spanish phrase “mi amigo,” a common expression that can be used colloquially.
Álvarez was added to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list in August 2017, which generally blocks U.S. persons from doing business with those designated and can restrict access to U.S.-linked assets. In June 2022, Álvarez was removed from the OFAC list.
Pulido’s campaign, through manager Abel Prado, disputed that the 2018 performance reflected a personal relationship and said Pulido was not close to Álvarez, according to The Daily Wire.
The controversy comes as Pulido’s campaign has also been challenged over past professional ties to accordion player Frankie Caballero. The Texas Tribune reported that Caballero was convicted in 2014 of indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl and later registered as a sex offender. The Tribune said the New York Post first reported Pulido’s work history with Caballero, and it quoted Prado as saying Pulido was not aware of Caballero’s criminal history at the time.
Separately, Pulido has faced criticism from Republicans over earlier social media posts and over a music video in which he portrayed lewd behavior. The Texas Tribune reported that Pulido has argued the video was intended as parody.
The race in Texas’ 15th District—redrawn ahead of the 2022 cycle to favor Republicans—has been closely watched by both parties as Democrats try to reclaim ground in South Texas.
