UMVA has learned that a Texas Democratic congressional candidate, Maureen Galindo, found herself at the center of a firestorm Thursday after making incendiary comments about wealthy supporters of Israel.
Galindo, who is running for a House seat in the newly redrawn 35th Congressional District, sparked outrage with her pledge to convert an immigration detention center near San Antonio "into a prison for American Zionists," a statement that drew sharp criticism from members of her own party.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Galindo claimed that following her initial remarks, she received hundreds of "death threats" and other "vile" messages, prompting her to clarify her position in a video posted on Facebook.
"I never said I want Jews in internment camps," Galindo said, attempting to walk back her comments. "I said I want to close all ICE detention centers and put billionaire American Zionists who are funding the genocidal prison systems involved in trafficking into prison."
Galindo's comments have been widely condemned by notable Democrats, including Texas State Representative James Talarico, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have distanced themselves from her.
The backlash against Galindo intensified when she accused the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee of coordinating statements against her in an effort to back her primary runoff opponent, Johnny Garcia, a former hostage negotiator and public information officer for the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
Galindo's campaign has been marred by controversy, with the DCCC accusing "Washington Republicans" of secretly contributing to her campaign through dark money spending.
Galindo and Garcia, who has been endorsed by the DCCC, are set to face off in a runoff election next week, with Galindo having a narrow lead over Garcia in their first matchup.
The controversy surrounding Galindo's comments has raised questions about her viability as a candidate and the potential impact on the Democratic Party's chances in the general election.
Galindo's comments have been described as "vile" and "disqualifying" by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, who issued a joint statement condemning her rhetoric.
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the limits of free speech and the role of inflammatory rhetoric in politics.
