Johnny Garcia wins Texas House primary amid controversy surrounding rival's comments

Johnny Garcia has won the Democratic primary in Texas’ 35th Congressional District, defeating Maureen Galindo, who faced condemnation from party leaders for antisemitic remarks. The district, which stretches from Austin to San Antonio, was redrawn by Republicans to favor their candidates. Donald Trump won the district by approximately 10.5 points in the 2024 election. Despite this, there are indications that the district could be competitive in the general election, with significant spending from a super PAC aimed at supporting Galindo. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders disavowed Galindo’s statements and criticized Republican efforts to support her. Garcia will face Carlos De La Cruz, who won the Republican primary runoff. The new district has a voting-age population that is about 52% Hispanic, and recent polling suggests a decline in Trump's support among Hispanic voters. The Democratic Majority for Israel and other groups spent significant amounts to support Garcia in the primary. The new congressional map drawn by Republicans aims to gain additional seats in Texas, with some districts expected to be battlegrounds in the upcoming elections.