\u201cIt seems shocking that someone who is so virulently antisemitic and anti-Zionist has not only been given a voice, but is even now in this primary runoff,\u201d Nathan, the senior rabbi of Temple Beth El, a 150-year-old Reform congregation, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.<\/p>\n
Galindo\u2019s extreme rhetoric has drawn national attention as the runoff in Texas\u2019 35th Congressional District nears,\u00a0 and increasingly has also drawn condemnation from other Democrats<\/a>, including some who are themselves critical of Israel and its supporters in the United States.<\/p>\n Democratic leaders distance themselves from candidate<\/p>\n Last week, the Texas Senate candidate James Talarico revealed to JTA that he would not back or campaign with Galindo if she wins the runoff against sheriff\u2019s deputy Johnny Garcia.<\/p>\n Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive leader who has been strongly critical of Israel, threw her support behind Garcia in a post on X\/Twitter Tuesday, calling Galindo\u2019s rhetoric \u201cabsolutely disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis bigoted garbage and antisemitism should be nowhere near our politics. If you\u2019re in TX-35, vote for @johnnygarciatx,\u201d Ocasio-Cortez wrote.<\/p>\n Also on Tuesday, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Washington Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene issued a joint statement condemning Galindo\u2019s rhetoric, writing that the \u201cvile language by her is disqualifying and has no place in American politics<\/a>, and certainly not in the Democratic Party.\u201d<\/p>\n Republicans accused of boosting candidacy<\/p>\n The two Democratic leaders also accused Republican leadership of propping up Galindo in the race through the newly launched Lead Left PAC, which has spent nearly $600,000 on ads and mailers bashing Garcia and boosting Galindo.<\/p>\n While the PAC has not had to disclose its donors, the metadata on its website previously linked it to WinRed, a Republican donation platform, according to a Punchbowl News report. Ocasio-Cortez made the connection in her statement, saying, \u201cThe donors behind the Republican super PAC funding her should be exposed.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeffries and DelBene called on Republican l<\/a>eadership to \u201cimmediately cease propping up this antisemitic candidacy, pull spending in the race and forcefully condemn these comments,\u201d adding that \u201cMAGA extremists should be ashamed of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement to The New York Times regarding funding for a mailer supporting her candidacy, Galindo suggested that the funds had come from \u201ca billionaire zionist who made the pac to sabotage candidates.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDems and Republicans uniting against me in the same week with the same message is evidence that they’re working together for the zionist billionaires that control our government and tax money,\u201d Galindo told The Times.<\/p>\n Galindo, WinRed and the National Republican Congressional Committee did not immediately respond to JTA requests for comment, and attempts to reach Lead Left PAC and the Republican National Committee were not successful.<\/p>\n Jewish groups and lawmakers respond<\/p>\n The head of Democratic Majority For Israel, Brian Romick, whose organization has launched a new six-figure ad campaign backing Garcia, also took aim at Lead Left PAC\u2019s spending on Galindo in a statement, calling on Republicans to \u201cexplain why they\u2019re paying to keep her viable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRepublicans aren\u2019t doing this by accident,\u201d Romick said. \u201cThey are deliberately elevating one of the most grotesque antisemites in American politics this cycle because they think it helps them win.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"AUSTIN,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/722084.jpeg\"\/)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 14: James Talarico speaks onstage during ”Raging Moderates” at the Vox Media Podcast Stage at SXSW on March 14, 2026 in Austin, Texas (credit: Rick Kern\/Getty Images for Vox Media)<\/p>\n