The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched a televised attack campaign against one of its own party's candidates in a Texas congressional race, marking an extraordinary intervention over inflammatory antisemitic statements.
The DCCC is spending $35,000 on ads attacking Maureen Galindo ahead of a May 26 runoff in Texas' 35th district. Galindo, a sex therapist, won the Democratic primary in March but faces a runoff against Johnny Garcia, a local sheriff's deputy who has the committee's backing.
The decision to cut ads against Galindo reflects intense internal pressure within Democratic ranks to act on her public statements about Jewish people. Most notably, Galindo has stated she wants to convert a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility into a "prison for American Zionists," a remark that drew swift condemnation from party leadership.
DCCC chair Suzan DelBene, a Washington Democrat, faced mounting calls from her members to intervene after Galindo's comments circulated. The resulting ad campaign frames Galindo as spreading "conspiracies" and "hateful words" while also accusing her of benefiting from Republican spending. The spot contrasts her with Garcia, arguing he "will fight Trump, not help him," and labels her "MAGA Maureen."
Galindo did not respond to requests for comment on the committee's decision to run ads against her candidacy.
The move underscores the party's attempt to distance itself from candidates whose rhetoric on Israel and Jewish Americans has become a flashpoint in Democratic politics. The DCCC's choice to spend money directly attacking a fellow Democrat rather than simply declining support signals the depth of concern among national party figures about the direction of the race.
Author James Rodriguez: "When a party's national committee feels compelled to spend money attacking its own primary winner, the breakdown isn't just internal anymore, it's public and damaging."
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