A Democratic primary runoff in South Central Texas is entering its final stretch with Democrats and local Jewish leaders focused on a set of comments they say cross a line into antisemitic conspiracy themes. Leila Fadel, host of NPR’s coverage, described the contest as volatile and said Galindo’s remarks prompted condemnation from both local Jewish leaders and national Democrats as she runs against Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy John Garcia for the Democratic nomination in Congressional District 35.
On the last day of early voting in the Texas primary runoff, Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reported a campaign scene at a polling location in San Antonio, where Emilio Pena set up a red canopy branded for Tejano Democrats. Pena said local supporters endorsed Galindo over Garcia, and he tied the endorsement to a contrast on immigration enforcement, saying Garcia backed ICE “100%” and that this made Galindo the preferred choice.
Fadel’s report said the condemnation centered on remarks Galindo made about Jews and Israel. Davies said Galindo—who has been described as a housing activist and sex therapist—has generated international headlines for her comments about Israel. In a The Source interview earlier this month, Galindo said, “We have Israeli Zionists who are influencing our local politics and our South Texas politics,” and she also described what she said was a connection between ICE and the Israeli military, describing that “ICE trains with the IDF in Israel.”
In the same interview, Galindo framed the issue as part of a broader effort she associated with Israeli policy, saying, “This is an Israeli occupation of America.” She also said the comment “sounds crazy to say on TPR,” adding that she believed many people she knows are “just kind of sick of hearing the mainstream media not cover this kind of stuff.” Davies said that when asked about the remarks, Pena argued supporters should focus on what Galindo could do for Congressional District 35 rather than the controversy.
Political science professor Jon Taylor of UT San Antonio described the remarks as part of a recognizable pattern. Taylor told Davies that Galindo “sounds like Fuentes - Nick Fuentes on the far right,” referring to the extremism of the messaging he said it resembled. Taylor said that while the comments are presented in a way that may be framed as criticism rather than antisemitism, they go beyond that by “press[ing] the edge of the envelope in terms of antisemitism,” using an analogy about a duck “that looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.”
Galindo, for her part, told The Source she is not antisemitic. She said, “In fact, my last serious relationship was with a Jewish man,” and she added, “I am against Zionist Jews.” Davies also reported that a social media post on Galindo’s campaign’s Instagram account said she would “turn Karnes ICE detention center into a prison for American Zionists,” referencing her view of “Zionists” as supporters of immigration enforcement rather than as a broad political category.
Davies also reported that Galindo has received support from Lead Left, a political action committee. An archived recording played during the report included a person urging listeners to “Vote Maureen Galindo,” saying, “Lead Left PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising.” Davies said some Democrats have charged that Lead Left is working in bad faith on behalf of Republicans, pointing to what they described as the group’s spending pattern earlier this year, and he said the funding sources have not been clear. Galindo said she had no contact with Lead Left and that she does not believe media reports that the support is in bad faith.
With the runoff scheduled for tomorrow, the political focus now blends immigration enforcement differences with scrutiny of Galindo’s remarks about Jews and Israel. As Davies reported from San Antonio, Pena said voters should decide what each candidate will do for Congressional District 35, while Fadel’s segment framed the condemnation as a defining part of the race’s closing days.