Bobby Pulido, the Tejano music star now running for Congress in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, is facing renewed scrutiny over his relationship with Frankie Caballero, a fellow musician and convicted sex offender.
This time, the questions center on a 2018 benefit concert connected to a middle school.
Pulido is challenging Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a district Democrats hope to flip. His name recognition and long music career have made him one of the party’s more notable recruits in Texas. But his campaign has been dogged by questions about past behavior, online posts, and especially his long association with Caballero, an accordionist who was convicted in a case involving sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl.
Axios reported Monday that Pulido, Caballero, and the rest of Pulido’s band performed on May 24, 2018, at a fundraiser for Harwell Middle School in Edinburg, Texas. The event was held at Richard R. Flores Stadium, not on school grounds, but promotional materials said children were welcome. Axios also said it reviewed video showing children in the audience.
The timing is central to the controversy. Caballero had been released from prison in 2017 after serving time on the sex offense conviction. He was also listed on the Texas sex offender registry at the time. Pulido resumed performing with him not long after his release, including an appearance with Caballero on Univision in December 2017.
Pulido and his campaign have said he did not know the nature of Caballero’s conviction. But that explanation has been challenged.
When the story first surfaced in April, Tejano bass player Ramon Rodriguez told the New York Post that Caballero’s conviction for sexually abusing a minor was “a known fact in music circles.” A former Hidalgo County prosecutor also argued that Pulido should have known, citing Caballero’s probation status and employer-related reporting requirements.
Caballero later faced more legal trouble. In 2021, he pleaded guilty in a case involving an assault on his daughter. Axios reported that a grand jury indictment accused him of impeding her normal breathing. According to the outlet, records showed Pulido was listed as Caballero’s employer in bonding documents from early 2021, while the assault case was still pending.
Photos and videos also reportedly show Pulido performing with Caballero as recently as June 2021.
Pulido eventually distanced himself from Caballero. In a 2024 interview, after another set of charges had been filed against the accordionist, Pulido said Caballero “just can’t stay out of trouble.”
The campaign has continued to argue that the issue is being raised for political reasons. A Pulido spokesperson said Republicans are only bringing up the matter because De La Cruz has acknowledged Pulido’s strength in the race.
“Bobby Pulido is a public figure who has been an open book for over 30 years, and the only reason Republicans are digging up this nothing story is because Monica De La Cruz herself admitted he is surging in this race,” the spokesperson said.
That response marked a sharper tone than the campaign used in April. At that time, campaign manager Abel Prado said Pulido had not known Caballero was on the sex offender registry and “would never knowingly associate with anyone with that kind of history.” Prado also said Pulido offered sympathy and support to the victims involved.
The Caballero controversy is not the only issue Pulido has had to answer for. His past social media activity has also drawn attention, including Twitter posts that linked to pornography. In one post, Pulido wrote that “it’s impossible to have Twitter and not watch porn.”
His music video for “Dias de Ayer” has also resurfaced as a point of criticism. In the video, Pulido portrays a series of crude characters, including one who appears to pleasure himself in public. The sexualized imagery was reportedly intended to respond to rumors about Pulido’s sexuality, though it had little connection to the song itself.
For Democrats, Pulido’s candidacy remains important. Texas’ 15th District is a competitive seat, and De La Cruz is one of the Republicans Democrats hope to unseat as they try to retake the House.
Polling in the race remains limited. A Democratic-sponsored poll from November showed De La Cruz ahead by 3 points. Betting markets have suggested a much tighter contest, with Kalshi recently putting Pulido slightly ahead of the incumbent, 49 percent to 48 percent.
But the renewed reporting on Caballero ensures Pulido’s past associations will remain part of the race. For voters, the question is not only what Pulido knew, but when he knew it — and why Caballero remained in his professional circle for so long.
