Texas 15th District Voter Guide: De La Cruz and Pulido on Health Care, Seniors and Water
Two candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot in Texas's 15th Congressional District: Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz and Democrat Bobby Pulido, according to Ballotpedia and The Texas Tribune. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on health care, seniors and water security.
The district was redrawn for 2026. It runs from Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley, including Edinburg and Weslaco, northeast into rural counties between Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Victoria, according to Wikipedia's summary of the new map. De La Cruz, an insurance agent, flipped the historically Democratic district in 2022, The Texas Tribune reported, and won reelection in 2024 with 57.1 percent of the vote, according to Wikipedia's summary of the results.
Why Health Care, Seniors and Water Are Issues in Texas's 15th District
The Cook Political Report rates the race a Toss Up in its Oct. 23, 2026 ratings. Inside Elections rates it a Toss-up, as of Oct. 15, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Lean Democratic, as of Oct. 27, according to Wikipedia's ratings table. A Texas Southern University poll of likely voters for El País, the Puente News Collaborative and the San Antonio Express-News, conducted Oct. 13-16 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 points, found Pulido at 51 percent and De La Cruz at 44 percent, according to Wikipedia's poll table. Other public polls of the race were sponsored by Democratic-aligned groups.
Water is a local issue: under the 1944 Water Treaty, Mexico is required to deliver an average of 350,000 acre-feet of water a year to the United States over five-year cycles, and missed deliveries have hurt South Texas farmers, De La Cruz's office said.
On health care and seniors, the TDFP video says De La Cruz "would protect Medicare and Social Security" and "co-sponsored legislation to prevent cuts to seniors' benefits." It says Pulido "would strengthen Medicare, protect Medicaid, and negotiate lower health care and prescription drug costs."
On water security, the video says De La Cruz "introduced a bill for tariffs on Mexico over missed treaty water deliveries, with revenue for affected farmers." It says Pulido "would invest in desalination, modern irrigation and water infrastructure, and hold Mexico to treaty obligations."
Monica De La Cruz (Republican, Incumbent)
De La Cruz is seeking a third term. She is endorsed by President Donald Trump and Gov. Greg Abbott, according to Wikipedia.
On health care and seniors, De La Cruz co-sponsored the Protect Social Security and Medicare Act in 2023 "to ensure that seniors continue to receive their healthcare and income benefits," her office said, and later co-sponsored the Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act to end federal taxes on Social Security benefits. Her campaign ads have highlighted her defense of Social Security and Medicare, The Texas Tribune reported.
On water, De La Cruz introduced the Water Assurance and Treaty Enforcement for Rio Grande Farmers Act, or WATER for Farmers Act, on June 1, 2026. The bill would impose tariffs on Mexico if it does not comply with the 1944 Water Treaty, with the money going to South Texas farmers hurt by missed deliveries, her office said. "It's time to hold the Mexican government to their agreed-upon water deliveries, and, if not, impose tariffs to support the farmers who have suffered due to their inaction," she said.
Bobby Pulido (Democrat)
Pulido, a Tejano music star making his first run for office, won the March Democratic primary, according to Wikipedia. He casts himself as the kind of Democrat South Texas voters "used to vote for," The Texas Tribune reported.
On health care, Pulido's campaign website says: "I believe that, like Social Security, Medicare is a promise and a critical safety net that we have to keep and make stronger." He calls for "negotiating better returns for what we spend on healthcare and prescription drugs," and says De La Cruz voted for a budget bill "that put Medicaid and South Texas seniors at risk"; that is his claim about her vote.
On water, Pulido's site says: "We need to fight for bold investments in desalination, modern irrigation and infrastructure to secure the water we need for decades to come. I'll fight to hold Mexico accountable for water treaty obligations and build a regional strategy that prioritizes South Texas families and farmers."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Monica De La Cruz: monicaforcongress.us. Bobby Pulido: bobbypulidofortexas.com.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Texas voters can check their registration and polling place at votetexas.gov. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Rep. De La Cruz, WATER for Farmers Act (June 1, 2026): https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3808 ; Rep. De La Cruz, seniors legislation: https://delacruz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=188 ; Bobby Pulido for Texas, issues: https://www.bobbypulidofortexas.com/issues ; The Texas Tribune (Oct. 16, 2026): https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/16/south-texas-rgv-bobby-pulido-monica-de-la-cruz-congress/ ; Ballotpedia, Texas's 15th District election, 2026: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas%27_15th_Congressional_District_election,_2026 ; Cook Political Report House ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings ; Wikipedia, 2026 U.S. House elections in Texas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Texas ; Texas Secretary of State voter information: https://www.votetexas.gov/
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