Republicans go all-in on 'Sharia law' attacks ahead of Texas primary

The Rise of Anti-Muslim Rhetoric in Texas Republican Primaries

As the Texas Republican primary approaches, anti-Muslim rhetoric has emerged as a significant and alarming theme. Candidates are fanning the flames of fear regarding the purported spread of Sharia law, positioning themselves as the strongest defenders against this perceived threat.

From the fierce competition in the GOP Senate primary to local races, Republican hopefuls are vowing to take a stand against a proposed residential development of 1,000 homes centered around a Mosque north of Dallas. This project has ignited a flurry of dire warnings about the dangers of Islam, with candidates questioning each other’s commitment to the cause while competing to sound the loudest alarm.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have found themselves in a tit-for-tat over not only this development but also the Afghan refugee resettlement program. Their exchanges, often laced with inflammatory anti-Islamic sentiments, have taken a particularly sharp turn. Cornyn has called for a federal investigation into the housing project, while Paxton has launched several probes and even sued the development in December over alleged securities fraud.

Texas, a state with a rich tapestry of diversity where non-Hispanic whites constitute less than two-fifths of the population, has long been a battleground for right-wing politics. The growing Muslim community, although small, has become a hot-button issue for Republicans eager to distinguish themselves in competitive races. This year’s GOP advertising strategy—ranging from condemning terrorist acts to more incendiary content like burning the Quran—marks a significant escalation in rhetoric that has historically been used to galvanize their voter base.

Vinny Minchillo, a consultant for the Texas GOP, encapsulated the situation succinctly: “The Muslim community is the boogeyman for this cycle. Without a doubt, this message resonates; polling confirms that Texas Republican primary voters are genuinely alarmed.”

On the opposing side, Muslim advocacy groups and Democrats have condemned these ads as racist and grossly misleading. Joel Montfort, a Democratic strategist from North Texas, stated, “The Texas GOP has declared war on Islam, alleging that Islamic leaders are implementing Sharia law in the state. This is pure fearmongering aimed at riling up the GOP base.”

A review by POLITICO has revealed that since the beginning of 2025, ads highlighting “Sharia law” have proliferated across various races, all originating from or supporting Republican candidates eager to showcase their stances against it.

Last week, Cornyn unveiled a seven-figure ad campaign titled “Evil Face,” branding radical Islam as a “bloodthirsty ideology” and linking it to recent violent events like the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia. The ad also mentioned his efforts to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Muslim advocacy organization.

Meanwhile, Paxton has been quick to target Cornyn’s previous support for Afghan refugee resettlement, labeling the housing project an “illegal land development scheme” and accusing its leaders of engaging in a “radical plot” for personal gain.

In the race for Texas attorney general, candidate Aaron Reitz released an ad this week asserting that “Islam is not compatible with Western civilization,” vowing to “stop the invasion” of Muslims. His opponent, state Senator Mayes Middleton, has also aired ads promising to combat “Sharia law” in Texas.

Provocatively, Valentina Gomez, a candidate for Texas’ 31st Congressional District, launched her campaign with a video of herself burning a Quran, ominously declaring, “Your daughters will be raped and your sons beheaded unless we stop Islam once and for all.” A conservative activist and provocateur, Gomez previously garnered only 8% of the primary vote in her bid for Missouri secretary of state.

The roots of anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. can be traced back to the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, where some Republicans skillfully exploited fear for political gain. The myth that Barack Obama was a secret Muslim lingered throughout his presidency, alongside opposition to the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero, which became a rallying cry for numerous national Republican figures.

Donald Trump exacerbated these sentiments, promoting conspiracy theories questioning Obama’s citizenship and disparaging Muslims. His 2016 campaign included a pledge to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., and as president, he enacted travel bans targeting majority-Muslim countries. Just recently, Trump reposted a comment labeling Islam as a “cult.”

However, the focus on anti-Muslim sentiment within GOP campaigns has waned in recent years—until now. The uptick in Texas reflects a broader trend, as Republicans nationally have intensified scrutiny on CAIR, the largest Muslim advocacy group in the U.S. Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR Action Texas Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, criticized Cornyn’s ad as “defamatory and despicable,” suggesting it stems from desperation to compete with Paxton’s blatant anti-Muslim bigotry.

“CAIR is not going anywhere; American Muslims are not going anywhere. Our community will demonstrate its strength at the ballot box, God willing,” Rizvi asserted.

In a striking move, Cornyn has co-sponsored legislation with Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) aimed at revoking CAIR’s tax-exempt status, while U.S. Representative Chip Roy has introduced similar measures. Moreover, following a super PAC’s attack ad against Paxton that labeled him “weird” and highlighted personal scandals, Paxton retaliated by accusing Cornyn of facilitating the influx of “radical Islamic Afghans” into Texas, a claim referencing Cornyn’s previous support for increasing Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans post-Taliban takeover.

Despite Cornyn’s earlier backing of the Afghan resettlement program, he reversed course alongside other Republicans last year after a shooting incident involving an Afghan asylum seeker, arguing that applicant vetting was insufficient.

In response to Paxton’s criticisms, Cornyn released a digital ad claiming Paxton is “soft on radical Islam,” pointing out that Paxton had directed $2.5 million toward resettling Afghan refugees in Texas and highlighting the fact that Paxton’s former attorney, who defended him during impeachment trials, now represents the East Plano Islamic Center.

Numerous Texas candidates have utilized footage of the East Plano Islamic Center project, which aims to include a K-12 school and retail space, in their ads. Prominent Texas leaders, including Governor Greg Abbott, have raised national security concerns about the proposed Muslim community. The East Plano Islamic Center has not responded to requests for comment.

“Texans overwhelmingly care about this,” remarked Reitz, the attorney general candidate. “They observe their communities changing in radical ways. The number of mosques erected in Texas over the past two decades is staggering. This is alarming for good reason, and Republican voters are seeking assurances from their elected officials.”

Cornyn’s ad states that “Sharia law has no place in American courts or communities,” linking it directly to the housing development. Trump’s Justice Department had previously initiated a civil rights investigation into the project last year after Cornyn’s request to the federal government to investigate claims of “religious discrimination.”

Paxton’s legal scrutiny of the development, which included multiple probes and a December lawsuit over alleged securities fraud, has become a focal point of his campaign. Although the Justice Department quietly closed its investigation without filing charges, Abbott moved forward, signing multiple laws targeting “Sharia compounds” and designating both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations. CAIR has since sued Texas, arguing that these actions are unconstitutional and defamatory.

In a recent statement, Paxton indicated that the state comptroller could exclude private schools from the school voucher program if they violate the newly signed anti-terror laws, asserting that “Texans’ tax dollars should never fund Islamic terrorists or America’s enemies.”