Talarico backs – Texas Democrats’ US Senate nominee James Talarico has endorsed Johnny Garcia in the state’s 35th Congressional District runoff next week, aiming to block Maureen Galindo after bipartisan backlash over her antisemitic comments and claims about turning a detenti
The decision landed like a warning shot as Election Day for Texas’ 35th Congressional District moves closer: James Talarico. the state’s US Senate nominee for Democrats. threw his support behind Johnny Garcia in a runoff next week—explicitly framing it as a fight against a rival candidate whose rhetoric has drawn bipartisan condemnation.
In a statement. Talarico said Garcia “knows how to fight for working Texans because he is a working Texan. ” and called his “battle-tested leadership” what “is exactly what’s needed in Congress.” Talarico also described Garcia as “born and raised in a working class household in San Antonio. ” and said Garcia is “a deputy sheriff” with a “track record of protecting the communities he’s running to represent.”.
For Democrats, the stakes are no longer abstract. The endorsement is part of a wider effort to stop Maureen Galindo, a sex therapist who has been rebuked by members of both parties over antisemitic remarks ahead of the May 26 runoff election.
Last week, Galindo posted on her campaign Instagram account that if elected she would turn a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center into “a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking.” Her message triggered backlash across party lines.
Galindo has denied that her comments were antisemitic. In a statement Wednesday. she said her “proposal for Karnes Detention Center was NEVER for Jewish Zionists– it’s for BILLIONAIRE Zionists. regardless of religion.” She added that “if they’ve done business for genocidal prison state materials or there’s evidence of pedophilia from Epstein files. they should be brought to trial.”.
Even with that denial, national Democrats are openly alarmed by the possibility that Galindo could win. Galindo placed first in the district’s March 3 primary and now faces a May 26 runoff. Democrats worry that her rhetoric could endanger their broader chances in a district that has become far less forgiving.
That concern has sharpened with money. Galindo has benefited from nearly $1 million in spending from Lead Left PAC, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings. Democrats also condemned the PAC’s spending after Punchbowl News previously reported that the PAC’s website had links to WinRed. a Republican fundraising platform. in its metadata. When pressed for comment, CNN reached out to Lead Left PAC.
Talarico’s push sits inside a map that has been redrawn to change the political math. Texas Republicans redrew the 35th District last year as part of a nationwide redistricting effort. changing it from a heavily Democratic seat into one that would have voted for President Donald Trump by 10 points. according to a CNN analysis.
Garcia’s allies describe the runoff as a moment that doesn’t allow for mistakes. “It is literally becoming all or nothing. and our opponent will only harm our party. will walk us off of a cliff. if we allow her to win. ” Garcia told CNN. He added that Talarico “understands the importance of what is at stake in this race. ” and argued Democrats “cannot just let it slip out of our hands when we know we can see victory in November.”.
National Democratic leaders, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Blue Dog Coalition, have rallied behind Garcia. Democratic leaders have also condemned Galindo’s rhetoric.
The refusal to share a ticket with Galindo has already become part of the storyline. Talarico told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last week that he would not campaign with Galindo if she wins the nomination, saying there must be leaders in both parties “willing to stand up and call out hate.”
The response from elected Democrats has been even sharper. Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Jared Moskowitz of Florida vowed to force votes to expel her from Congress “every single day we are here” if she is elected.
In a statement released Wednesday, they said: “Maureen’s insane, antisemitic views — including putting Americans in concentration camps — have no place in our Party or country.”
With May 26 now only days away. the runoff campaign has turned into something closer to a test of party boundaries—where Democrats are betting that distancing themselves from Galindo’s comments. and uniting behind Garcia. is the quickest route to keeping the district’s political future from flipping.
James Talarico Johnny Garcia Maureen Galindo antisemitic comments 35th Congressional District Texas runoff May 26 Lead Left PAC Lead Left PAC spending WinRed ICE detention center Karnes Detention Center