Johnny Garcia, a public information officer for the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, is projected to win the Democratic primary runoff for Texas's 35th Congressional District, defeating Maureen Galindo after she faced intense criticism over remarks that critics called antisemitic.
Galindo, a sex therapist and housing activist who placed first in the initial March primary, had written on Instagram that she would turn an ICE processing center in Karnes County "into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking" if elected. The comment drew swift condemnation from national Democratic leaders as both candidates competed for the nomination in a seat now considered likely Republican following redistricting.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have noted that regardless of who won the Democratic nomination, the seat is expected to favor their candidate after redistricting reshaped the district. National Republicans are likely to treat this race as evidence of internal Democratic divisions over Israel and ICE policy.
The controversy over Galindo's remarks may give Republicans ammunition to paint Democrats as divided on border security and antisemitism ahead of the general election. Republican primary voters in Texas were also headed to a runoff for the seat, with both parties preparing for what is expected to be a competitive fall contest despite the district's new composition.
What the Left Is Saying
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called Galindo's Instagram post "bigoted garbage" and endorsed Garcia, one of her most direct rebukes of a primary challenger. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), two Jewish House members, said they would "force a vote to expel her" should she be elected.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico refused to campaign alongside Galindo after the post surfaced. Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas) wrote on X that "Maureen Galindo has no place in our party and no place in Congress."
Garcia's victory was seen as a validation of national Democratic priorities, with party leaders coalescing behind his candidacy to avoid a nominee they feared would be unelectable in November.
What the Numbers Show
Galindo received 34 percent of the vote in the March primary, finishing ahead of Garcia at 23 percent among seven candidates. The winner needed more than 50 percent to avoid Tuesday's runoff, which preliminary results indicate Garcia achieved.
The seat was previously held under old district lines but its new boundaries make it more favorable for Republican candidates. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), who currently represents the old 35th District, is running in the newly redrawn Austin-area 37th Congressional District instead.
The Bottom Line
Garcia's victory ensures Democrats will field a nominee without the baggage of Galindo's inflammatory remarks, but it also highlights how quickly national party leaders intervened in a local race. With Republicans expecting to compete seriously for the seat after redistricting, both parties are likely to invest resources in what was once considered a safely Democratic district. The outcome underscores the continued sensitivity around antisemitism accusations within the Democratic coalition and the willingness of prominent progressives to publicly oppose primary candidates whose statements they deem bigoted.