U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has announced he will not campaign with Democratic House candidate Maureen Galindo, citing her use of “antisemitic rhetoric.” Talarico, a Texas state representative and pastor, issued a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency asserting that such rhetoric “has no place in our politics” and calling for leadership in both parties to “call out hate wherever it rears its ugly head.”
The rift comes as Galindo, a housing activist, sex and family therapist, and single mother, nears a Democratic runoff for a U.S. House seat in a competitive San Antonio-area district. Galindo led the 35th District’s Democratic primary in March with 29.2% of the vote, followed by sheriff’s deputy Johnny Garcia at 27%.
Galindo’s campaign has been marked by conspiracy theories and inflammatory comments regarding Zionists. She told the San Antonio Current that It’s her perception that “Zionist billionaires run the world,” specifically citing “Israeli, Jewish billionaire Zionists” who she claims “disproportionately and factually own a lot of Hollywood production studios, media companies, and banks.” On social media, she referred to “ZIOS” as “GENOCIDAL EUROPEAN COLONIZER FREAKS” and used the phrase “synagogue of Satan,” a term popularized by Louis Farrakhan. She has also stated that “Israeli leaders are not real Jews.”
Beyond rhetoric, Galindo has proposed extreme policy measures. On Instagram, she wrote that if elected, she would draft legislation to ensure that “all Zionism and support of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic.” she proposed converting a local immigrant detention center into a “prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” adding that the facility would also serve as a “castration processing center for pedophiles,” whom she claimed “will probably be most of the Zionists.”
Responding to Talarico’s refusal to support her, Galindo told the JTA that his stance suggests he “might be Zionist affiliated.” She denied accusations of antisemitism, noting a past relationship with a Jewish man, but reaffirmed her opposition to “Zionist Jews,” claiming they “own our media, our banks, and all of our politicians.” Galindo has also disparaged Latino men, claiming they possess a “colonizer mentality.”
The political fallout has been significant. John Lira, a former Minor Business Administration staffer and former primary opponent, rescinded his endorsement of Galindo, citing “derogatory, inflammatory, and conspiratorial statements directed toward Jewish people and others.” The San Antonio Jewish Community Relations Council also issued a statement condemning “any and all hateful speech, including the use of antisemitic tropes, in public discourse.” The sentiment is particularly acute in San Antonio, home to approximately 11,000 Jews, who faced a mass shooting threat at a community center last year.
The runoff election has become a flashpoint for different factions within the party. Galindo, who has spent approximately $11,000 on her campaign, has received support from Lean Left, a Florida-based super PAC linked to Republicans. Conversely, Democratic Majority For Israel (DMFI) has launched a six-figure ad campaign supporting Johnny Garcia. Brian Romick, head of DMFI, stated that Galindo “proudly embraces vile, antisemitic conspiracies” and warned that her victory “could put a Democratic House majority at risk.”
Garcia has condemned Galindo’s “antisemitic remarks,” arguing that such comments cause voters to “lose faith in the Democratic Party.”
The outcome of the May 26 runoff may determine whether Galindo becomes the nominee. If she wins, she could enter the general election without the support of prominent state Democrats like Talarico, potentially impacting efforts to flip the district following Republican-led redistricting.
