Democratic Texas candidate faces backlash over antisemitic posts

A Democratic congressional candidate in Texas has drawn widespread condemnation from members of her own party and Jewish organizations after pledging to convert a federal immigration detention center into a prison for “American Zionists” and a “castration processing center for pedophiles.” Maureen Galindo, a sex therapist and housing activist, made the remarks in a series of social media posts last week as she campaigns in a primary runoff for Texas’s newly redrawn 35th Congressional District.

In an Instagram post, Galindo wrote that she would “turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking.” She added, “It will also be a castration processing center for pedophiles, which will probably be most of the Zionists.” The candidate, who often refers to herself in the third person, also stated her intention to introduce legislation declaring that “all Zionism and support of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic.”

Galindo’s posts have repeatedly targeted her runoff opponent, Johnny Garcia, a former public information officer for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. She has accused Garcia, without evidence, of being part of a...