TX-35: Democrat Johnny Garcia wins Texas House primary after rival's antisemitic comments drew national rebukes [View all]

Democrat Johnny Garcia has won his party’s primary in Texas’ 35th Congressional District, NBC News projects, defeating a rival whom party leaders had condemned for antisemitic comments as Democrats look to compete in a district Republicans redrew to their benefit.

The district stretches from Austin to San Antonio, the result of Republican efforts to combine two Democratic seats into one and create a new district leaning their way. Donald Trump carried the district by about 10.5 points in 2024.

Despite that result, there are signs the district could be competitive in the general election, including $1 million in spending from an opaque outside group aimed at boosting Garcia’s opponent, sex therapist Maureen Galindo, despite the controversies dogging her. Punchbowl News reported that the super PAC, Lead Left PAC, had links to a GOP fundraising platform.

One TV ad from Lead Left framed Galindo as a fresh face compared with “weak Democrats,” highlighting her calls to eliminate U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Meanwhile, in a recent Instagram post, she wrote that she wanted to turn an ICE detention center “into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking,” among other things.



https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrat-johnny-garcia-wins-texas-house-primary-rivals-antisemitic-com-rcna346547