One question has loomed large in a competitive Democratic primary in South Texas: Will Hispanic voters who flocked to President Trump choose a moderate Democrat who could appeal to socially conservative voters or lean left at a time when the administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown is proving unpopular?
Bobby Pulido, a popular Tejano singer who has the Democratic establishment on his side, is facing off against Dr. Ada Cuellar, an emergency room doctor who has the backing of the more progressive wing of the party.
Whoever wins the Democratic nomination on Tuesday will determine the direction of the party and challenge Representative Monica De La Cruz, the Republican incumbent in Texas’ 15th District, an oddly shaped district that stretches from the border to the outskirts of San Antonio, some 250 miles north.
Dr. Cuellar’s campaign said she believes momentum is on her side and is gaining ground among young voters who use social media. They support her calls for dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement, legalizing abortion and challenging the “compadrismo,” or cronyism of the Democratic Party in the Rio Grande Valley.
Mr. Pulido’s campaign is hoping endorsements from party leaders, name recognition and an expansive ground game that has touched all 11 counties in the district propel him to victory Tuesday.
He supports a secured border but doesn’t like agents going after otherwise law-abiding immigrants. Mr. Pulido also supports expanding health care, especially for those in poor or rural communities and wants to do away with some tariffs that hurt agriculture.
The nominee will face a tougher electorate than Democrats in recent cycles have faced. Over the summer, the Republican-controlled state legislature redrew the 15th District to favor Ms. De La Cruz. But Democrats argue that if Latino voters are shifting, as recent polls suggest, the district remains competitive.
The winner will also have to unify a fractured Democratic bloc. The race has, at times, turned personal, with Dr. Cuellar attacking Mr. Pulido for his views on abortion and ties to Democratic Party leaders.
Mr. Pulido has said that while he personally opposes abortion, he also disapproves of Texas’ near-total ban on abortion and said women should be able to make their own medical decisions.
Edgar Sandoval covers Texas for The Times, with a focus on the Latino community and the border with Mexico. He is based in San Antonio.
The post A Democratic Primary in South Texas Reflects a Party at a Crossroads appeared first on New York Times.
