A Texas Democratic primary candidate has ignited a firestorm of bipartisan condemnation after calling for the conversion of an immigration detention facility into what she described as a "prison for American Zionists." The inflammatory rhetoric has prompted party leaders to distance themselves from the candidate and sparked accusations that conservative groups may be bankrolling her campaign to sabotage Democratic chances in a competitive House race.
Maureen Galindo, running in next week's Democratic primary for Texas's 35th congressional district, made the comments on Instagram last week, writing that if elected she would introduce legislation declaring Zionism antisemitic and would transform the Karnes ICE Detention Center into a facility to imprison what she called "American Zionists and former ICE officers." The post included additional inflammatory language regarding pedophiles.
The district, which covers parts of San Antonio and surrounding counties, was long reliably Democratic but has become highly competitive after Republican redistricting efforts last summer. Galindo advanced to the runoff after finishing first in March's primary election, where she faces Johnny Garcia, a former sheriffâs deputy.
In a radio interview the day after her Instagram post, Galindo clarified she was not antisemitic but opposed to what she called "Zionist Jews" and suggested that Garcia and others backed by pro-Israel groups should face treason charges. She later issued a campaign statement asserting she had never advocated for internment camps and was targeting "billionaire zionists" who profited from what she described as a "genocidal prison state."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene issued a joint statement calling Galindoâs comments "vile" and "extremely dangerous," with no place in Democratic politics. They directly called on Republican House leadership to cease supporting her campaign and condemn her rhetoric.
Other prominent Democrats swiftly followed. Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz vowed in a joint statement to "force a vote to expel her every day" if she were elected. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez branded the remarks "bigoted garbage and antisemitism," demanding that donors behind the Republican Super PAC funding Galindoâs campaign be exposed.
The Republican financing angle has become central to Democratic party strategy in the race. A mysterious political action committee called Lead Left PAC, founded less than a month ago, has spent more than $900,000 promoting Galindo, making it the largest single spender in the Democratic primary runoff. According to campaign finance tracking firm AdImpact, the group has deployed more than $600,000 in advertising alone, with additional spending on direct mail.
The PAC has not disclosed its donors. Punchbowl News previously reported that links to the Republican fundraising website WinRed appeared in the group's website metadata before being removed. Lead Left PAC also ran ads in Democratic primaries in Pennsylvania and Nebraska earlier this month, suggesting a broader strategy beyond the Texas race.
Galindoâs primary opponent Garcia seized on the Republican support argument, accusing her of pushing conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric that Republicans were exploiting by boosting her campaign to secure an easier November matchup. James Talarico, Texas's most prominent Democrat and a gubernatorial candidate, endorsed Garcia and told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency he would not campaign alongside Galindo.
When asked about Republican involvement in supporting Galindo, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he was unfamiliar with her and had only learned of her comments the previous day. He declined to address specific allegations about GOP backing, instead using her remarks as an example of what he characterized as the Democratic party's direction.
Galindo, a former sex therapist, did not respond directly to requests for comment but her campaign website published a statement contending that journalists had mischaracterized her position and that she was specifically targeting wealthy individuals rather than making religion-based allegations. The runoff election is scheduled for Tuesday.
Author James Rodriguez: "When a fringe candidate with poisonous rhetoric starts pulling nine-figure ad spending, asking who's behind the money stops being speculation and becomes the real story of the race."
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