The conversation with Bobby Pulido, Democratic candidate for District 15 of Texas, had to be virtual, from his ranch, where he resides with his wife and four children.

The singer has been famous since the 90s in both the United States and Mexico, due to his northern Mexican style music. He was born in Edinburg, Texas, where he has never left, except for his musical tours.

Pulido is not really new to politics, which he had left aside for his musical career. After finishing high school he studied political science at the prestigious St. Mary's University, but did not finish his degree.

“I had one semester left and that was when I made the decision to try my talent there with music and it went quite well,” says Pulido. His talent was also recognized with the Latin Grammy.

Pulido is also an entrepreneur, which has allowed him to learn about a complex side of life in Texas, dealing with payroll and managing a business in the Valley.

You are recognized as a singer, of course, but we did not know about this political streak or this interest in politics. What precisely led you to make this decision to participate in politics and share and compete particularly for District 15 in Texas?

"When I was young I was always very studious. Here in Texas I was also chosen as a boy stater and I also received a scholarship to study political science in San Antonio, at Saint Mary's University, and I studied for four years and was about to graduate. I had one semester left and that was when I made the decision to try my talent there with music and it went quite well.

"I've had a 30-year career and I already feel like I want to go back to what I initially wanted to do. I feel like it's time and I feel like there's a lot of need. They drew that district and did their tricks, like the Republican Party always does. And well, I feel like I have the pulse of the people [and] I know what we need to win."

There we were following a controversy against you, you being a singer and they pointed out that, in politics, you should rather dedicate yourself only to singing at quinceañera parties, but you gave him an interesting lift about that. Finally he said, well yes, it is an honor to do it. Tell us about this controversy – caused by the Republican De la Cruz – and why it is so important, because it is a cultural issue, also a community issue, right?, which has to do with the heritage we have, especially on the Mexican side, precisely in Texas.

"Of course, look, I didn't see it as controversial. Honestly, Jesús, I have sung for 30 years in music without having a single scandal. I mean, nothing. There has never been a scandalous artist where I could do or did something that would make me ashamed of my family and it turns out now that they want to paint me as a scandalous person and they are making a fuss, they have attacked me for singing with Julión Álvarez in 2018, things like that. I mean, they are looking for everything What I can and I'm going to tell you something, what bothers me is that yes, a lot of it comes from the stereotype that they want to form of our culture, which is the culture of bad people, and they tried to insult me with that quinceañera thing, but look, we turned it around and honestly we have already done, I don't know, 2,324 quinceañeras and we have many scheduled where we are, the truth is, having a lot of contact with people."

What are the issues that the campaign is mainly pushing? Because well, the country is experiencing a situation that impacts, of course, the entire nation in economic issues, in social issues, in immigration issues. What is Pulido's agenda?

"Look, before, I think that what moves Hispanics the most more than anything is the economy. The economy is very important for us, because honestly many of us come from humble families where our dream is to raise our family. So the economy for me is very important. Right now the dollar is no longer enough like before. It is just losing a lot of value and I feel that it has been because the politicians and I blame the Republican Party, because they are the ones who do it, they tell the billionaires: let's see, You don't have to pay much tax and that burdens the middle class. So the country's expenses don't stop, those are going to continue coming. And what does the government have to do to cover those expenses when the billionaires are not paying? Well, when we print more money, it generates inflation and loses value.

"Right now, medical services are too expensive. Here in the Texas Valley there are many people who don't even have doctor's insurance, because it is very expensive and that is causing us a lot of problems. There are people who are dying, because they don't go to the doctor because they can't afford it. […] Now add all the problem that is happening with immigration, with ICE [the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency]. Right now our community in the Texas Valley is paralyzed. There are many people who don't "They are leaving their house because they are afraid. There are many working people who have lived here for 20 years with nothing on their record. They have never done anything bad that has happened to them, they have never done anything and they are living in fear."

One thing that I have noticed in many Hispanic politicians as well and that they support this movement, but they say that in a certain way, that is, that their families are immigrants, but now they demand a certain way of immigrating and support indiscriminate deportations. What message would you say to these people, that is, the benefits or the American dream is beneficial only for some?

"I believe, I do believe that it should be for everyone. Obviously we are going to be honest, it is impossible to let and allow everyone to come. I mean, that is not what we are talking about. I mean, it is the truth, you cannot do that, it is impossible to say that everyone comes, that cannot be done. Obviously in Mexico, for example, it has its own sovereignty and its laws as well. All countries have it and there is not a single country that just says let everyone come. […] Here there are many young people who are not having Children. The truth is, we need legal migrants who come to work and who want to be here, pay their taxes and benefit us and benefit themselves as well. I mean, I do feel that we have not had immigration reform [...] So, it is always very convenient for them to say, not that they do it the right way, but there are people who have been waiting 20-25 years [...] What I propose is to open the door, the legal gate and make it a little more accessible so that people can say, Well, look, it's a big deal in Mexico, I mean, the truth is, they pay $8,000 dollars to the cartel to cross them through Mexico. There are many people in Central and South America who I think would gladly pay the government to be able to fly, and the government there can generate money that I feel can benefit them and at the same time also present them with a humanitarian way to get to this country safely, without having to have those risks of rape or whatever you want, right?

You have the ability to connect with people because of your career as a singer, but as a politician there is a different way of approaching people. How have you faced this change?

"I am, I am talking to people just as I did with music. I come from a family of musicians, my father is also a singer and one thing that from a young age I understood that my father, my father was not just one of us, the family, he was one of the people too, of the public, and all my life I saw him in restaurants about to eat a taco, a hamburger, whatever you want, and that people would come and ask for a photo. Do you know what we do? We raise our heads. food and we took the photo. Why? Because we owe it to the public and I feel that a public servant who is in politics should be the same. I mean, the truth is, there is no strategy, there is no different way that we are doing. I think that what I feel is lacking in politics is that people are authentic, even if it hurts them, even if it hurts them. It hurts you, but you have to talk about things as they are and I feel that that is lacking right now in politics.”