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Texas 35th Congressional District Democratic Primary Runoff Results and Controversy

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Garcia Wins Democratic Primary Runoff in Texas' 35th District

Johnny Garcia won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas' 35th Congressional District on May 26, defeating Maureen Galindo. He will face Republican Carlos De La Cruz in the general election. The campaign was marked by controversy over Galindo's social media posts, which drew criticism from both parties.

Primary Results

Garcia, a deputy sheriff, won the runoff after neither candidate secured a majority in the initial March 3 primary. Galindo had placed first in that primary with 29% support, triggering the runoff. The Republican primary runoff remains between Carlos De La Cruz and state Rep. John Lujan.

Controversial Statements

During the campaign, Galindo posted on Instagram that if elected, she would convert an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center into a "prison for American Zionists" and suggested Zionism should be classified as antisemitism. She also called for eliminating ICE.

Galindo stated that her proposal targeted "billionaire Zionists" regardless of religion and denied being antisemitic, saying she opposes "Zionist Jews."

Reaction from Political Figures

  • Johnny Garcia called her comments "conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric."
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Suzan DelBene labeled them "extremely dangerous" and "vile."
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called them "bigoted garbage and antisemitism."
  • Republican Carlos De La Cruz described the rhetoric as "disgusting."
  • James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas, said he would not campaign with Galindo if she won.
  • Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz stated they would force votes to expel her from Congress if she were elected.

Campaign Finance

Lead Left PAC, a super PAC, spent over $800,000 (reported as $1 million in some accounts) to support Galindo. The PAC's donors are not public. Punchbowl News reported that the PAC's website contained metadata linking it to WinRed, a Republican fundraising platform. House Speaker Mike Johnson denied any Republican involvement.

Galindo raised less than $10,000 for her own campaign.

District Background

The 35th District stretches from Austin to San Antonio. It was redrawn by Texas Republicans in 2021, combining two Democratic seats into one and creating a new district leaning Republican.

  • President Donald Trump carried the district by approximately 10.5 points in the 2024 election, compared to a 2-point margin in 2020.
  • The voting-age population is approximately 52% Hispanic.
  • The seat is currently held by Democrat Greg Casar.

Party Response

National Democratic organizations, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Blue Dog Coalition, supported Garcia in the runoff. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other national Democratic leaders disavowed Galindo's statements, labeling them antisemitic.

Texas Republican strategist Brandon Steinhauser noted that the decision to draw the district map was "making some big assumptions that President Trump's support among Hispanics in Texas would translate in the future."