Democrat Who Called For Imprisoning ‘American Zionists’ Now Blames Media For ‘Twisting’ Her Words

There’s a growing wave of antisemitism across the West, and in the United States there seems to be a disproportionate level of it within the ranks of the Democratic Party.

One recent example involves Maureen Galindo, a congressional candidate in Texas who received sharp backlash for a campaign promise to “turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking.”

Threats to round up and imprison supporters of Israel sounds like a fairly direct way to have oneself labeled an antisemite, but Galindo doesn’t think she deserves it.

As The Hill reported, she’s blaming the press … or more precisely, one reporter:

“Everything is based off a local journalist twisting words,” Galindo told The New York Times in a text message. “I have always called for all detention centers to be closed.”

Galindo has defended her comments and insisted that she isn’t antisemitic, writing in a statement on her website that she “does want Karnes ICE facility to be turned into a prison for the billionaire zionists who have profited off genocidal prison state materials and trafficking. Prosecution has nothing to do with religion– they could be Evangelical, Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, etc.”

The Democratic primary for the San Antonio-based House seat came into the national spotlight as the party scrambles to prevent a candidate who could be a political liability from becoming its nominee in the November election.

Of course, her claims that she’s actually not antisemitic weren’t enough to convince her critics.

Even some in her own party have denounced her rhetoric and distanced themselves from her campaign:

Lawmakers from both parties condemned an antisemitic post shared on Instagram by Texas congressional candidate Maureen Galindo, where she said she'd detain American zionists at ICE detention facilities if elected to office.

Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL)… pic.twitter.com/OWik8OqWJW

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 20, 2026

Jewish Telegraph Agency: James Talarico won’t campaign with Democratic House candidate who wants to open "a prison for American Zionists"

Maureen Galindo is facing a primary runoff in her San Antonio-area district

James Talarico: "This antisemitic rhetoric has no place in our…

— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) May 16, 2026

Hakeem Jeffries condemns a Democratic candidate who pledged to jail 'American Zionists' and castrate 'most of the Zionists' — then pivots to blaming Republicans for 'propping up this antisemitic candidacy.'

Texas progressive Maureen Galindo posted that she'd turn a local ICE… pic.twitter.com/iQGH62zsvD

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) May 20, 2026

But all of that might not be enough to tank her chances in this week’s runoff election, as The Free Press reported:

But the scandal was not entirely a surprise to those who know Galindo. Candidates who have run against her, a businessman whose project was nearly derailed by Galindo, and a former San Antonio City Hall staffer who used to spar with her at public meetings describe her as “out there,” “conspiratorial,” and “very angry.” And for some, that’s not a bad thing.

“There’s an appetite for all these types of things, just like with Marjorie Taylor Greene,” said Ricardo Villarreal, an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for a different House seat in Texas and one of Galindo’s only four donors, according to her Federal Election Commission filings. (Two of the other donors are her relatives.) “She’s definitely got her supporters,” Villarreal said.

In March, Galindo shocked national Democrats by finishing first in the initial primary. On Tuesday comes her next test: a runoff against establishment pick Johnny Garcia, a sheriff’s deputy in Bexar County. Villarreal said the flood of outside money behind Garcia—some from a pro-Israel PAC—could end up “backfiring,” helping cast Galindo as an insurgent underdog ahead of Election Day. Plus, Villarreal said, her conspiratorial politics may be part of the appeal for some voters.

In the Trump era, conspiracy has been considered the domain of the right. First came Pizzagate, followed by QAnon, then Greene—whose 2020 election brought the outrageous, including the “Jewish space lasers” claim, into the Republican mainstream. On the left, a parallel style of politics is taking shape: anti-Israel, anti-billionaire, and steeped in grievance. It’s become more pronounced since the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack against Israel: Democrats have felt the pressure to disavow AIPAC donations and cut defensive funding for Israel.

Galindo, who far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker recently called“Marjorie Taylor Blue,” is a test for the outer limits of what Democratic voters are willing to embrace.

“Maureen Galindo is a crazy person,” Piker said in a stream this month. “I think the more crazy she gets, the more her chances go up but what do I know?”

Senator John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Democrat, said Galindo is the “new pinup girl for the dirtbag left.”

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He added: “She’s the ‘loud’ part and next Overton window for the fringes of our party.”