Controversy-tarred congressional candidate Maureen Galindo this week pledged to transform a site south of San Antonio now used by the Trump administration to detain migrants into an internment camp for “American Zionists.”
“She’ll turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” Galindo wrote in an Instagram post over the weekend, referring to herself in the third person. “It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists.”
Galindo’s latest set of inflammatory remarks comes as the Democratic hopeful for Texas’ newly redrawn 35th Congressional District continues to draw national attention for remarks critics have called antisemitic and untethered from reality. The controversy is snowballing as she heads into the May 26 Democratic primary runoff.
Over the past week, Galindo has accused her runoff opponent — former Bexar County Public Information Officer Johnny Garcia — of participating in a human trafficking conspiracy orchestrated by billionaire zionist Jews. She also pledged during a Texas Public Radio interview to put Garcia on trial for treason.
Beyond her attacks on Garcia, Galindo has continued to promote the narrative that a cabal of Jewish zionists controls Hollywood, the media and even local politicians.
Even so, in comments to the Current and other media outlets, Galindo maintained she only has an issue with zionists, or those advocating for the existence of a Jewish state in their ancestral homeland, rather than Jews in general.
“I think it’s actually the zionists who are putting Jewish people at the most risk,” Galindo told the Current last week.
The San Antonio Jewish Federation (JFSA) doesn’t see it that way.
“The JFSA strongly condemns the spread of antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories in public discourse,” the group said in a statement responding to Galindo’s remarks. “Divisive and hateful rhetoric targeting the Jewish community has no place in our civic life.”
Indeed, mainstream Democrats have drifted away from Galindo as she ramped up her rhetoric.
John Lira, who lost to Galindo in the primary, last week rescinded his endorsement of her. Meanwhile, State Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for Texas’ contested U.S. Senate seat, on Friday told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he wouldn’t campaign alongside Galindo — even if she wins her runoff.
“This antisemitic rhetoric has no place in our politics,” Talarico told the publication. “We need leadership in both parties willing to stand up and call out hate where it rears its ugly head.”
Early voting runs now through Friday, May 22. Polls will reopen on election day, Tuesday, May 26.
The Bexar County Elections Department’s website includes information on poll locations and operating hours.
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The Democratic candidate’s latest statement comes as she faces growing accusations of spinning antisemitic conspiracy theories.
The Democrat running to represent the 35th District claims a cabal of Jewish Zionists controls the world and that her primary rival is involved in human trafficking on their behalf.
Maureen Galindo, a sex therapist and self-proclaimed professional astrologer has gathered a social media following by spinning left-wing conspiracy theories.