Texas Democratic Candidate Faces Criticism Over Social Media Comments on Zionists

Democratic House candidate Maureen Galindo is facing criticism from both parties over Instagram posts in which she pledged to turn an immigration detention facility into a prison for American Zionists if elected. Galindo is running against Johnny Garcia in next week's Democratic primary for Texas' 35th Congressional District, which covers parts of San Antonio and surrounding areas.

The seat is currently held by a Democrat but was altered by Texas redistricting last summer. In the posts, Galindo wrote that she would convert the Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking.

She also stated that the facility would serve as a castration processing center for pedophiles, which she said would probably include most Zionists. Galindo further wrote that when she gets into Congress, she will write legislation declaring all Zionism and support of Zionism to be anti-Semitic.

Her social media also includes attacks on billionaire Zionists and calls for treason trials for Zionist-associated candidates and politicians. Galindo has denied being antisemitic and said she is opposed to Zionist Jews. She told CBS News that her comments were misrepresented by a local media outlet but reiterated her desire to imprison billionaire American Zionists involved in funding what she described as genocidal prison systems.

Democrats have condemned the comments.

Johnny Garcia called them conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric. Gubernatorial candidate James Talarico said he would not campaign with Galindo. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Suzan DelBene, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement that the comments were extremely dangerous and vile and have no place in Democratic politics.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called the comments bigoted garbage and antisemitism. She wrote on X that the donors behind the Republican super PAC funding Galindo should be exposed. Republican Carlos De La Cruz, who is running in the GOP primary for the same district, wrote on X that the rhetoric is disgusting and has no place in Texas.

Many Democrats have alleged that Galindo has been propped up by conservative funders. They point to Lead Left PAC, a political action committee founded less than a month ago that has reported more than $800,000 in pro-Galindo and anti-Garcia spending, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings.

Lead Left PAC identifies itself as an anti-Trump organization, and its donors are not public. Punchbowl News reported earlier this month that its website contained metadata linking it to WinRed, a digital fundraising platform used by Republican candidates and GOP-aligned groups.

The New York Times also raised questions about whether Lead Left PAC is linked to Republicans. Galindo told CBS News in an email that she has literally no clue about the PAC and is continuing her autonomous grassroots efforts. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday that he did not know the person existed and did not know anything about Republican backing for the candidate.

Galindo, a sex therapist, and Garcia, a former sheriff's deputy, advanced to next week's Democratic primary runoff after no candidate won 50% of the vote in the initial round. The Republican runoff candidates are De La Cruz, a small business owner and Air Force veteran, and state Rep.

John Lujan, a former sheriff's deputy. President Trump and Johnson have endorsed De La Cruz.