ByANDREW LAPIN/JTA

MAY 16, 2026 05:37

Maureen Galindo, the housing advocate and conspiracy promoter whose tirades against billionaire Zionists have shaped her bid for a US House seat in Texas, stands close to capturing a Democratic runoff in a key San Antonio district.

Yet if she secures the nomination, she will lack backing from the state's leading Democrat, US Senate hopeful James Talarico.

This antisemitic language has no role in our politics. We need leaders in both parties prepared to confront hate in all its appearances, the Texas state lawmaker whose rising campaign has drawn wide notice said in remarks to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency when questioned about Galindo.

Talarico's team told JTA he would skip joint appearances with Galindo should she prevail in the May 26 runoff for the district Democrats hope to reclaim after GOP redistricting efforts.

Talarico, a minister, has built his profile as a faith-driven progressive. Though his ties to Jewish groups remain limited, his refusal to back Galindo follows his rejection of aid from the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC and his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Galindo embodies extreme antisemitism in progressive circles

The sharp rebuke targeted an outsider contender who has come to symbolize heightened antisemitic expressions among Democrats, as the party chases midterm gains while managing sensitive ties to Jewish voters.

Galindo, a sex and family therapist and single parent who gained notice by opposing a redevelopment plan that threatened her affordable housing, has spent roughly eleven thousand dollars on her race. Still she topped the 35th District's Democratic primary in March with twenty nine point two percent of the ballots.

Her runoff foe, sheriff deputy Johnny Garcia, earned twenty seven percent. The next two candidates backed Galindo after dropping out. Local progressives argue Garcia's early nod from Democratic Majority for Israel and his moderate stance may have cost him support, while Galindo's anti establishment views boosted her appeal.

Responding to Talarico's stance, Galindo told JTA his position suggests Zionist ties so she would steer clear accordingly.

I planned to campaign alone anyway she wrote in an email. I run independent races to keep my independence. That independence draws supporters to me.

Galindo also told JTA that organized media efforts labeling her anti Zionist comments as antisemitic were increasing harm to San Antonio Jews by feeding stereotypes about media control.

Zionists want us to fault all Jews to shield themselves from violence they inflict on Semites throughout the Middle East Galindo added. I refuse to accept that framing and will keep shielding all Jews from their misguided leaders by stressing it is not all Jews. We must speak loudly against Zionism now to defend our neighbors.

The candidate has also attacked other groups such as Latino men whom she accuses of holding a colonizer outlook.

On matters involving Jews and Zionists the candidate has voiced her opinions plainly.

It is quite intricate she told the San Antonio Current this week days after national outlets highlighted her earlier comments. My sense is Zionist billionaires control the globe. They come from every faith yet especially Israeli Jewish Zionist billionaires who hold disproportionate stakes in Hollywood studios media firms and banks.

On social platforms this week she posted ZIOS equal genocidal European colonizer freaks. Elsewhere she invoked the synagogue of Satan a biblical term later used by Louis Farrakhan to claim modern Jews lack authenticity and asserted Israeli leaders are not genuine Jews.

On Instagram Wednesday Galindo wrote that if elected she would craft laws making all Zionism and its support clearly antisemitic because Zionists harm Semites. She added she would convert a local immigrant detention site into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers involved in human trafficking. It will also serve as a castration processing site for pedophiles who she said would likely include most Zionists.

On Texas Public Radio this week she denied antisemitism charges yet reaffirmed opposition to Zionist Jews.

I am not antisemitic she said. In fact my last serious partner was Jewish. I oppose Zionist Jews. When I noted Jews owning Hollywood I meant not all Jews but Zionist Jews control our media banks and politicians.

She added ample proof appears in the Epstein files.

During the same broadcast Garcia condemned her antisemitic comments and said he had met with worried local Jews.

Such remarks prompt people to skip voting and lose trust in Democrats Garcia said. I assured them we understand the 2024 losses that drove many away. These words wound and offer nothing positive for our party.

On social media Galindo targeted Garcia by showing him before US and Israeli flags and claiming he accepted Israeli funds to reach Congress and finance Israeli conflicts.

Democratic Majority For Israel is launching a late six figure ad push for Garcia. Johnny Garcia builds coalitions supports strong US Israel ties and has opposed antisemitism clearly DMFI leader Brian Romick told Jewish Insider. His rival on the other hand openly embraces vile antisemitic conspiracies and if she advances could endanger a Democratic House majority.

Galindo has drawn support from Lean Left a new Florida super PAC with murky roots tied to Republicans.

Questioned about Galindo the San Antonio Jewish Community Relations Council told JTA it condemns all hateful speech including antisemitic tropes in public debate. The statement avoided naming candidates.

San Antonio hosts roughly eleven thousand Jews shaken last year by a mass shooting threat at a Jewish center.

After Galindo's remarks surfaced one former primary rival withdrew his endorsement. Over the runoff I grew troubled by repeated derogatory inflammatory and conspiratorial claims aimed at Jewish people and others John Lira a former Small Business Administration staffer said in a statement.

Lira declined to back Garcia and instead said he would stay neutral in the runoff.