Blab Politics
Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi Faces Surge of Israel-Focused Resolutions Amid Rising Antisemitism
In the sun‑baked city of Corpus Christi, a storm of debate raged Thursday through Saturday as delegates of the Texas Democratic Party turned their attention to nearly twenty resolutions that criticize Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war. The proposals—many labeling Israel’s actions as genocide, demanding an arms embargo, and branding pro‑Israel groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as foreign agents—mark the second consecutive year the party has entertained such measures.
The convention’s agenda echoes a broader trend of anti‑Israel sentiment within the party. In 2024, former chair Gilberto Hinojosa reportedly blocked the most inflammatory resolutions at the El Paso convention, a move that Arthur Pron in, president of the Meyerland Democrats and a Houston Jewish activist, praised. Pron in said Hinojosa’s intervention helped keep the 2024 resolutions from becoming “conspiracy theories about dual loyalties among our own Jewish delegates.”
During the current convention, Pron in voiced concern that the proposals could alienate Jewish attendees. He noted that many Jewish delegates who attended the El Paso meeting said they would not return to Corpus Christi because of the discomfort they felt. Pron in also highlighted the broader context of rising antisemitic incidents reported by the FBI and the Anti‑Defamation League since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
The resolutions under consideration include: a call to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza—a charge that South Africa and several NGOs have also made; a demand for an arms embargo on Israel; and a declaration that AIPAC is a foreign agent, coupled with a request that Democratic candidates refuse its support. Emad Salem, a board member of the Muslim Democratic Caucus of Texas, authored three of the proposals. Salem argued that U.S. weapons sales to Israel during the Gaza war implicate the United States in the conflict.
Paul Colbert, a delegate, described the resolutions as “inflammatory and one‑sided.” He said they could alienate voters who might otherwise support Democratic candidates. Colbert emphasized that the Gaza war began after Hamas violated a ceasefire and launched an attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages, arguing that the resolutions ignore that context.
Mark Oppenheimer, a religion‑and‑politics scholar at Washington University, said that criticism of a government’s actions is legitimate, but blaming an entire state or its people is not. Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, echoed this view, noting that many Jews believe Israel has a right to exist and that criticism of its policies does not make one a bad Jew.
The surge of anti‑Israel resolutions coincides with a rise in antisemitic rhetoric in both parties. In Texas, Republican Senator Ted Cruz has warned that antisemitism is increasing on the right, citing Tucker Carlson and other far‑right figures. Republican candidate Bo French, who resigned as Tarrant County GOP chair after a controversial social‑media post, has also been criticized for remarks that many view as antisemitic.
The controversy has left some Jewish voters feeling politically homeless. Yvette Pintar, a Democratic precinct chair, said many Jewish voters are reconsidering their participation because they feel excluded from the party’s decision‑making. Scott, a North Texas activist, recounted an incident at a 2024 Democratic convention where he was escorted out by party staff after a delegate shouted “Free Palestine.” He said he would not attend the state convention.
The Texas Democratic Party has not yet released a formal response to the resolutions. Kendall Scudder, the current chair, declined to comment after multiple interview requests.
The convention’s outcome will be decided by a vote of delegates. If any of the resolutions pass, they could influence the party’s stance on foreign policy and affect the political climate for Jewish voters in Texas. The next steps will depend on the convention’s final decisions and any subsequent actions by the party’s national leadership.
The situation underscores a growing tension within the Texas Democratic Party as it navigates the intersection of foreign policy, antisemitism, and internal party cohesion. The convention’s resolution outcomes will likely shape the party’s messaging and strategy in the upcoming 2026 election cycle.
The convention’s agenda echoes a broader trend of anti‑Israel sentiment within the party. In 2024, former chair Gilberto Hinojosa reportedly blocked the most inflammatory resolutions at the El Paso convention, a move that Arthur Pron in, president of the Meyerland Democrats and a Houston Jewish activist, praised. Pron in said Hinojosa’s intervention helped keep the 2024 resolutions from becoming “conspiracy theories about dual loyalties among our own Jewish delegates.”
During the current convention, Pron in voiced concern that the proposals could alienate Jewish attendees. He noted that many Jewish delegates who attended the El Paso meeting said they would not return to Corpus Christi because of the discomfort they felt. Pron in also highlighted the broader context of rising antisemitic incidents reported by the FBI and the Anti‑Defamation League since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
The resolutions under consideration include: a call to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza—a charge that South Africa and several NGOs have also made; a demand for an arms embargo on Israel; and a declaration that AIPAC is a foreign agent, coupled with a request that Democratic candidates refuse its support. Emad Salem, a board member of the Muslim Democratic Caucus of Texas, authored three of the proposals. Salem argued that U.S. weapons sales to Israel during the Gaza war implicate the United States in the conflict.
Paul Colbert, a delegate, described the resolutions as “inflammatory and one‑sided.” He said they could alienate voters who might otherwise support Democratic candidates. Colbert emphasized that the Gaza war began after Hamas violated a ceasefire and launched an attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages, arguing that the resolutions ignore that context.
Mark Oppenheimer, a religion‑and‑politics scholar at Washington University, said that criticism of a government’s actions is legitimate, but blaming an entire state or its people is not. Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute, echoed this view, noting that many Jews believe Israel has a right to exist and that criticism of its policies does not make one a bad Jew.
The surge of anti‑Israel resolutions coincides with a rise in antisemitic rhetoric in both parties. In Texas, Republican Senator Ted Cruz has warned that antisemitism is increasing on the right, citing Tucker Carlson and other far‑right figures. Republican candidate Bo French, who resigned as Tarrant County GOP chair after a controversial social‑media post, has also been criticized for remarks that many view as antisemitic.
The controversy has left some Jewish voters feeling politically homeless. Yvette Pintar, a Democratic precinct chair, said many Jewish voters are reconsidering their participation because they feel excluded from the party’s decision‑making. Scott, a North Texas activist, recounted an incident at a 2024 Democratic convention where he was escorted out by party staff after a delegate shouted “Free Palestine.” He said he would not attend the state convention.
The Texas Democratic Party has not yet released a formal response to the resolutions. Kendall Scudder, the current chair, declined to comment after multiple interview requests.
The convention’s outcome will be decided by a vote of delegates. If any of the resolutions pass, they could influence the party’s stance on foreign policy and affect the political climate for Jewish voters in Texas. The next steps will depend on the convention’s final decisions and any subsequent actions by the party’s national leadership.
The situation underscores a growing tension within the Texas Democratic Party as it navigates the intersection of foreign policy, antisemitism, and internal party cohesion. The convention’s resolution outcomes will likely shape the party’s messaging and strategy in the upcoming 2026 election cycle.
