Hidalgo, Cameron County voters make their choice
Eric Flores, hugs Supporters finding out that he is the winner to represent district 34. At his watch party tonight at Stefano's Brooklyn Pizza located on 4201 US-83 BUS, Harlingen, TX 78552 Eduardo Rodriguez/ Pulse
Unofficial results show voters from Cameron and Hidalgo counties chose their Republican and Democratic nominees for the 15th and 34th congressional district, with more than 121,000 ballots cast.
As of 11:47 p.m., unofficial results showed 48,451 of 237,794 registered voters cast a Republican or Democratic ballot for the March 3 Primary Election.
As of 11:49 p.m., unofficial results showed 53,022 of 453,105 registered voters cast a Republican or Democratic ballot for the March 3 Primary Election.
Hidalgo County
Tejano singer Bobby Pulido defeated Dr. Ada Cuellar in the Democratic primary in the U.S. Representative District 15 race.
As of 11:45 p.m., Pulido was the projected winner for the Democratic race with a total of 32,604 votes to Cuellar’s 15,346.
Pulido will face off against Republican Incumbent Monica De La Cruz in the November general election.
Asked why it is important for young students to be politically involved, Pulido replied it is them that decide the future of issues, specifically the sinking value of the U.S. dollar.
“Right now, the money is not going as far as it used to when I was younger,” Pulido said. “If people in office don’t do something about this, we are actually going to negatively affect your future and we can’t do that.”
De La Cruz ran unopposed.
In a news release earlier today, De La Cruz criticized Pulido’s win, calling him a celebrity “who brags about living in a foreign country.”
Regarding the shift from musician to politician, Pulido said his life has come full circle now that he is a democratic candidate.
“Before I die, I want to actually be able to do something and try to make a difference,” he said.
in Pharr. Renata Flores/ Pulse
Cameron County
Eric Flores won the Republican U.S. Representative District 34 race with 51.65% of votes, a total of 7,126, over a handful of challengers, including former congresswoman Mayra Flores.
“To Cameron County, thank you for your trust, thank you for your vote and I promise to you tonight that I will never let you down,” Flores said during a social media livestream after finding out the results.
In the same livestream, Flores gave a “clear” message to Vicente Gonzalez, who won the congressional District 34 race on the Democratic side: Gonzalez does not represent “true” South Texas values.
Etienne Rosas, Gonzalez’s challenger, lost with 37.29% to the incumbent, who garnered 62.71%.
“Regardless of the outcome, this campaign has been built on the energy of people, on the talent of the community, on respecting and listening to their voices,” Rosas said.
UTRGV mass communication sophomore JJ Garcia attended Rosas’ watch party in Brownsville. Garcia said he thinks it’s important for students to vote.
“In past elections, the turnout wasn’t so good in Texas and with this election you see the turnout doing way better than before,” Garcia said.
Gonzalez will defend his congressional seat against Flores in the November midterm elections.
