NPR Adds Context to Coverage of Texas Congressional Candidate's Antisemitic Remarks

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+ Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Congressional Democrats slam Texas candidate over remarks seen as antisemitic In the final stretch of a Democratic primary runoff in Texas, the comments of a candidate for the U.S.

+ Politics Congressional Democrats slam Texas candidate over remarks seen as antisemitic May 25, 20264:42 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition From By David Martin Davies Congressional Democrats slam Texas candidate over remarks seen as antisemitic Listen &middot; 4:00 4:00 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5830404/nx-s1-9784075" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript In the final stretch of a Democratic primary runoff in Texas, the comments of a candidate for the U.S. House have triggered condemnation from local Jewish leaders and national Democrats. Sponsor Message LEILA FADEL, HOST: A Democratic primary runoff in South Central Texas is one of the most volatile congressional contests in the state. Maureen Galindo finished first in the March primary. Local Jewish leaders and national Democrats have condemned some of Galindo's comments about Jews and Israel. She faces Bexar County Sheriff's Deputy John Garcia in the runoff tomorrow. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies has more.

+ (SOUNDBITE OF CANOPY BEING SET UP) DAVID MARTIN DAVIES, BYLINE: It's 8 a.m. on the last day of early voting in the Texas primary runoff, and Emilio Pena is setting up a red canopy in front of a polling station at the San Antonio Mission Branch Library. The canopy is branded, Tejano Democrats. The local chapter of the political group is here to support Maureen Galindo in the runoff for the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 35. EMILIO PENA: The member have a meeting. Everybody voting. DAVIES: Pena said they voted to endorse Galindo over her runoff opponent, Johnny Garcia, because he is not calling for the elimination of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. PENA: Garcia supported ICE 100%. DAVIES: Yet the Texas Democratic Party and other leading Democrats are condemning Galindo, accusing her of making antisemitic remarks. When asked about these remarks, Pena said it's more important what Galindo can do for Congressional District 35. PENA: Hey, people don't think like this. People thinking, what do you want to do for 35? DAVIES: But Galindo, a housing activist and sex therapist, has been generating international headlines for her comments about Israel. (SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "THE SOURCE") MAUREEN GALINDO: We have Israeli Zionists who are influencing our local politics and our South Texas politics. Do you know that ICE trains with the IDF in Israel? DAVIES: In an interview with Texas Public Radio's The Source earlier this month, Galindo dove deep into conspiracy theories, alleging Jewish control of banking, politics and the news media. (SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "THE SOURCE") GALINDO: This is an Israeli occupation of America. That sounds crazy to say on TPR, but that's not crazy for so many people who are just kind of sick of hearing the mainstream media not cover this kind of stuff. DAVIES: Political science professor at UT San Antonio Jon Taylor says Galindo's comments are similar to extremist talking points. JON TAYLOR: She sounds like Fuentes - Nick Fuentes on the far right. DAVIES: Taylor says Galindo's comments are resonating with some voters, especially younger ones, who oppose the actions of the Israeli government. But he says her comments go beyond criticizing U.S. support for Israel. TAYLOR: If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it sure seems to be a duck. And she would claim it's not, but it sure presses the edge of the envelope in terms of antisemitism. DAVIES: Galindo says she is not antisemitic. (SOUNDBITE OF PODCAST, "THE SOURCE") GALINDO: In fact, my last serious relationship was with a Jewish man. I am against Zionist Jews. DAVIES: Zionism is the movement to establish a Jewish homeland in what is today the state of Israel. In a social media post from earlier this month on her campaign's Instagram account, she said, quote, "she'll turn Karnes ICE detention center into a prison for American Zionists." Galindo is also supported by the recently formed political action committee Lead Left. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Vote for change. Vote Maureen Galindo. Lead Left PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising. DAVIES: So far this year, it's been spending to support left-leaning Democratic primary candidates running against more moderate opponents. That's a spending pattern that has led some Democratic politicians to charge that Lead Left is actually working on behalf of Republicans. The sources of its funding are not clear. Galindo says she has had no contact with Lead Left, and she doesn't believe media reports that its support for her is in bad faith. For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio. (SOUNDBITE OF GITKIN'S "CHICHA NOLA") Copyright &copy; 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. 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