Johnny Garcia won the Democratic primary runoff for Texas's 35th Congressional District on May 26, 2026, defeating Maureen Galindo with 60.5% of the vote to Galindo's 39.5%, as reported by the Associated Press.
Galindo faced significant backlash in the weeks leading up to the election due to controversial social media posts that were criticized as antisemitic. In one post, she stated, "She’ll turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists and former ICE officers for human trafficking," which led several Democrats to distance themselves from her campaign. Two Jewish House Democrats indicated they would support her expulsion from Congress if she won.
Concerns were also raised regarding Galindo's campaign financing, particularly after reports indicated her campaign received funds from Lead Left PAC, which has been alleged to have ties to Republican operatives.
Garcia, who previously served as a spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, launched his campaign in October and received endorsements from several prominent Texas Democrats, including Rep. Greg Casar and Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico. In the March primary, both candidates advanced to the runoff after finishing ahead of two other Democratic candidates.
In the Republican runoff, Carlos De La Cruz defeated state Rep. John Lujan with 57.7% of the vote. The 35th Congressional District was created after the 2010 census and has undergone significant redistricting, making it more favorable to Republicans in the latest map approved by Texas lawmakers.
