Exclusive: Democrats target De La Cruz over SNAP cuts
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One of the new billboard ads. Photo: Courtesy of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
U.S. House Democrats' campaign arm is releasing billboard ads Wednesday targeting U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-Edinburg) over federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Why it matters: Texas kicked off a redistricting fight to put more Republicans in Congress in part based on increased support for the party among Hispanic voters in South Texas in the last election.
- But that strategy is facing a test, and Democrats are focusing on Latino voters' growing discontent with the economy under President Trump.
Zoom in: A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesperson said the group is spending in the five figures for the campaign but wouldn't specify how much. One of the images has text on an empty plate that reads "Monica De La Cruz is taking food off your plate."
What they're saying: "Instead of helping folks back home feed their families, De La Cruz decided to make massive cuts to nutrition assistance, taking food off the table of millions of hardworking families — just so they could pay for tax breaks for her billionaire backers," DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus tells Axios.
The other side: "The DCCC can burn through what little money it has, but it cannot drown out the disgusting record of a morally bankrupt Bobby Pulido," National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez tells Axios.
- "Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz voted to protect SNAP for the truly vulnerable, require able-bodied adults to work and crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse, all while delivering historic tax relief for working families."
Catch up quick: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included cuts to SNAP funding, stricter work requirements for SNAP participants and more cost burden for states in some cases.
- De La Cruz said in July 2025 after the act passed that she "proudly voted" for it, highlighting a boost in the child tax credit.
- Participation in Texas SNAP has since fallen.
State of play: De La Cruz has represented the Latino-majority 15th Congressional District, which runs from McAllen to Seguin, since 2023. She is the first Republican to represent the district.
- Democrats want it back and think they have a strong candidate in Tejano star Bobby Pulido.
- Pulido has been targeted over his ties to accordionist Frankie Caballero, a registered sex offender. His campaign has said that Pulido was "never made aware" that Caballero was a registered sex offender.
- The nonpartisan Cook Political Report this summer shifted its rating of the district from likely Republican to lean Republican, saying Pulido posed a serious challenge.
By the numbers: Pulido could use the outside help.
- De La Cruz spent more than $3.4 million through the end of June, compared with Pulido's $1.8 million, campaign finance reports show.