Red flag raised over alleged GOP effort to boost controversial Dem's candidacy
A Democratic candidate who said she wants to turn an ICE facility into a "prison for American Zionists" was prompting outrage among Democrats who are scrambling to figure out how to isolate her amid allegations that a Republican-linked group could be funding her campaign, according to an Axios report on Wednesday.
Maureen Galindo, a sex therapist running for Texas' newly-redrawn 35th Congressional District consisting of eastern San Antonio, wrote in a long campaign Instagram post last weekend that she would make Karnes County Immigration Processing Center "a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers."
Democrats have voiced their concerns about Galindo's candidacy as questions have surfaced about who has funded her campaign. Some lawmakers have urged the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to block her nomination and Axios reported there is "private pressure" to spend money to push back on her run for office.
"A mysterious PAC is spending hundreds of thousands to boost Galindo, which Democrats allege is a Republican attempt to ensure the GOP candidate in that district faces a weak opponent in November," Axios reported.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene (D-WA) released a statement Tuesday taking a stance on Galindo's comments.
"House Republican leadership must immediately cease propping up this antisemitic candidacy," Jeffries and DelBene said.
Two lawmakers — Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) — have warned that if elected, they have a plan to try and force her out of Congress.
"If, for some reason, Maureen Galindo wins ... as soon as she is sworn in, we will force a vote to expel her every day she is here," the two Democrats wrote in a joint statement.
"Maureen's insane, antisemitic views — including putting Americans in concentration camps — have no place in our Party or country," Gottheimer and Moskowitz said.
Galindo, who finished first in the Democratic primary, will be in a runoff election on May 26 with Sheriff's Deputy Johnny Garcia, according to The Texas Tribune.