The runoff in Texas’ newly redrawn 35th Congressional District has turned into a firestorm after Maureen Galindo, a Democratic candidate from San Antonio, posted inflammatory social media messages calling for “American Zionists” to be imprisoned and accusing political opponents of treason, prompting widespread condemnation and withdrawal of endorsements in the final week before the May 26 runoff.
The controversy centers on a series of Instagram posts that surfaced in mid-May and were amplified by national media attention. One post said Galindo would convert the Karnes ICE Detention Center into “a prison for American Zionists” and labeled many of them as pedophiles, comments that quickly drew outrage and calls for accountability. The timing is notable: her runoff is one week away and early voting is already underway.
Social posts attributed to Galindo did more than target a group; they repeatedly attacked her runoff opponent, Johnny Garcia, accusing him of taking money from Israel and alleging he should be tried for treason. Graphics shared on her account accused “JOHNNY GARCIA AND ALL AMERICAN CANDIDATES & ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO TOOK MONEY FROM ISRAEL WILL BE TRIED FOR TREASON,” and one post in particular used hashtags like #FREEPALESTINE and #ABOLISHICE while claiming broad local support for cutting ties with Israel. Those messages have been captured and circulated widely online.
Beyond the detention-center claim, other posts show Garcia in uniform beneath Israeli and American flags with text alleging he accepted Israeli money to run for Congress. One caption claimed “80% of Democrats want to cut ties with Israel” and referenced an unverified statistic alleging Israel “killed more than 25,000 children in 948 days.” Those assertions spread through reposts and have added to the backlash.
Galindo also shared content critical of AIPAC and pushed a broader narrative accusing “a cabal of Jewish zionists” of controlling Hollywood, the media, and local politicians. That framing tied her remarks to longstanding conspiracy themes that Jewish organizations and many Democrats denounced. Jewish community leaders in San Antonio publicly objected to what they described as antisemitic tropes and harmful rhetoric in public life.
“When Maureen gets into Congress, she’ll write legislation so that all Zionism and support of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic, since it’s Zionists harming the Semites. She’ll turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking. It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists.”
In statements to local outlets, Galindo insisted her target was “zionists” and not Jewish people as a whole, saying, “I think it’s actually the zionists who are putting Jewish people at the most risk.” That defense did not stop several affiliates and former allies from distancing themselves. At least one former primary opponent rescinded an endorsement, and a high-profile Democratic nominee publicly said they would not campaign with her even if she prevailed.
The political fallout has been swift. Party figures and civic groups condemned the language and urged leaders to reject divisive rhetoric. Local Jewish organizations warned that such messages feed into dangerous conspiracy theories and increase the risk to community members. The controversy has put an uncommon spotlight on a runoff that otherwise might have remained a local contest.
Claims of human trafficking conspiracies and allegations that Garcia was part of a plot “orchestrated by billionaire zionist Jews” were also circulated on Galindo’s feeds, along with promises to pursue legal action against opponents. These charges lack public evidence and have been widely disputed, but they have nonetheless shaped the conversation in the final days before the vote. Voters in TX-35 are now weighing whether incendiary accusations and proposals like converting a detention facility into a political prison are disqualifying.
Critics argue that rhetoric calling for imprisonment of Americans based on political or ideological labels crosses a dangerous line, while supporters who have not publicly broken with Galindo suggest she is addressing issues about immigration detention and political influence. The debate raises questions about accountability for campaign speech and how parties handle candidates who stray into extremist language. With early voting under way, the runoff outcome will reflect whether local voters accept or reject that approach.
“Divisive and hateful rhetoric targeting the Jewish community has no place in our civic life.”
As the May 26 runoff approaches, the national attention on a single congressional primary in Texas underscores how social media posts can transform local contests into broader stories about speech, blame, and the limits of acceptable political discourse. Some Democratic leaders have publicly disavowed the rhetoric, while others emphasize the need to distinguish between criticizing Israel or its supporters and attacking a whole group of Americans. The remainder of the race will show how much these controversies influence turnout and choice in the district.
Early voting and campaign activity continue through the final week, and organizers on both sides are mobilizing voters amid the heightened scrutiny. Whatever the immediate outcome in TX-35, the episode is a reminder that modern campaigns can shift rapidly when inflammatory claims meet persistent media attention and prompt institutional responses from parties and community groups.
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