Bombastic activist now in Democratic runoff for redrawn South Texas congressional district

Congressional candidate Maureen Galindo strikes a pose in a recent post on TikTok. Credit: TikTok / MaureenForCongress

A San Antonio activist known for spinning dubious left-wing conspiracy theories on TikTok not only made it to the runoff in Tuesday’s Democratic primary but earned more votes than a well-funded opponent backed by party PAC money.

Colorful candidate Maureen Galindo took home 30% of the vote in the Democratic primary for Texas’s recently redrawn 35th Congressional District. She’ll now face Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy Johnny Garcia, who garnered 27% of the vote, in the May 26 runoff.

Galindo, a sex therapist and self-proclaimed professional astrologer, has amassed a loyal following on TikTok for her diatribes, which include accusing the Express-News of colluding with “millionaires and billionaires” to facilitate human trafficking and claiming billionaire Graham Weston is “underwriting” the San Antonio Current.

In another tirade, Galindo shared a conspiracy alleging Opportunity Home, San Antonio’s local housing authority, was skimming off the top by leasing public housing units on Airbnb.

None of those claims has proven true.

After the 35th District was redrawn by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee initially wrote it off.

After all, the once reliably blue district held by progressive U.S. Rep. Greg Casar was rejiggered to include rural, red-leaning counties southwest of San Antonio, meaning it would have supported Trump by at least 10 points in the previous presidential election.

However, with concerns about AI data centers on the rise in rural Texas, the DCCC changed its tune in December, adding the 35th to its list of “districts in play.”

“Knowing their record of broken promises has turned voters against them, Republicans are attempting to save their microscopic majority by trying to diminish the power of voters of color in Texas,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement. “Democrats will not let their cynical power play go down without a fight. The DCCC will work to ensure the people of Texas’ 35th District have the representation they deserve.”

Although Garcia quickly became the Democratic establishment’s choice, earning an endorsement from the Blue Dog Coalition — a moderate group within the party — that didn’t carry him to an easy win. Instead, Galindo led the pack in Tuesday’s contest.

Still, it’s unclear how long her moment in the spotlight will last as Democratic voters take a hard look at their runoff choices.

The winner of that runoff will take on the winner of a separate GOP runoff between Texas State Rep. John Lujan, who was three points shy of taking the GOP nomination, and Carlos De La Cruz, a retired Air Force veteran whose sister is U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz.

Bombastic activist now in Democratic runoff for redrawn South Texas congressional district

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