House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (right) appeared in San Antonio Sunday to throw his support behind congressional candidate Johnny Garcia (left). Credit: Michael Karlis

During a Sunday appearance at San Antonio’s Calvary Baptist Church, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused President Donald Trump of courting religious voters without knowing the basic conventions of the faith he claims to embrace.

“In Second Corinthians, the fourth chapter. Now, that’s Second Corinthians, not ‘Two Corinthians,'” Jeffries said as he addressed parishioners at the East Side house of worship. “Mr. President, if you sell the Bible, you should know the Bible.”

Jeffries jab was clearly referencing Trump’s 2016 appearance at evangelical Christian school Liberty University, where the then-candidate referred to the Bible passage 2 Corinthians 3:17 as “Two Corinthians, 3:17,” rather than the customary usage: “Second Corinthians.”

The gaffe became an embarrassing moment in Trump’s efforts to win over evangelical voters, a group he’s continued to court.

Jeffries — who’s in line to become House speaker should Democrats win control in the midterms — was in town stumping for Johnny Garcia, who’s in a tight race against Republican Carlos De La Cruz to represent Texas’ 35th Congressional District.

The district, redrawn by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature last year, went for Trump in the 2024 election by nearly 10 points.

However, Democrats are increasingly optimistic that the GOP’s gerrymandering of the majority-Hispanic district will turn out to be a “dummymandering” as voters balk at rising consumer and fuel prices along with Trump’s draconian immigration crackdowns.

Jeffries told Calvary’s congregation that Garcia would fight to lower prices while preventing Republican efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare.

“We believe, as House Democrats, that life is way too expensive,” Jeffries said. “After you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life, and a good life — good-paying jobs, good housing, good healthcare, a good education for your children. Then, when it’s all said and done, a good retirement.”

During his time addressing parishioners, Garcia focused on his experience as a former Bexar County Sheriff’s deputy.

“I still believe that our nation can get back to having safe streets and still protect our constitutional rights,” Garcia said. “I still have faith that we can secure our border and remain a nation that treats people with dignity and respect. Liberty should mean being able to work, worship and raise a family without fear of unjust treatment. The pursuit of happiness is a promise that must remain a dream worth pursuing.”

The protection of constitutional rights has become a growing concern among pro-Democracy advocates and nonprofits who are increasingly worried Trump may try to weaponize the Department of Justice to sway the outcome of the midterm elections.

Just last week, the DOJ filed a preemptive lawsuit seeking to halt the certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race results if the incumbent Republican loses to the Democratic challenger.

On Monday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an emergency bid by the DOJ to force California election officials to set aside mail-in ballots from more than 10,000 registered voters over allegations of voter fraud.​

“We’re going to make sure that it’s a free and fair election here in Texas and across the country,” Jeffries told the Current after the church service. “Democrats have stood up the largest voter protection effort in the history of a midterm election in America. We understand that it’s the American people who should be the ones to decide who’s in the majority in the next Congress, and we’re going to make sure that’s exactly what happens.”

Early voting continues through Oct. 30. Polls will reopen on Election Day, Nov. 3. Information on where and when to vote is available on the Bexar County Elections Department website.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...