Islam in the Upcoming Elections: three women holding signs that read Use your voice and Vote

Election Day in Texas is Tuesday, November 3. This presentation from Kufi Productions looks at what is at stake for Muslims in Texas, the narratives shaping this election, where candidates on the ballot stand, and how to make sure your vote counts.

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Agenda: What's at stake, the overarching narrative, breaking down the ballot, next steps.

What is truly at stake: Muslims are more at risk now than ever before. What can anti-Muslim rhetoric contribute to? This is about more than individual political disagreements. It is also about religious freedom, equal treatment, representation, and the ability of Muslim communities to live and participate in society without being targeted because of their faith.

Muslim myths in the media, the overarching narrative. Creeping Sharia: the claim that sharia is gradually taking over, or threatens to take over, American and Texas law. Islam is not a religion: the claim that Islam is a political ideology rather than a religion, so it should not receive the same protections and should be treated as a hostile force.

Ballot breakdown, Greg Abbott, Republican candidate for Governor: has taken an explicitly anti-Muslim stance. Designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist organization, targeted EPIC's development, and HB 4211, the Anti-Sharia Compounds law, which spreads misunderstanding and propaganda.

Ballot breakdown, Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for Senate: as Attorney General has had the power to actively harm Muslims in Texas. Sued CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood to shut them down, spearheaded a multi-year campaign against the EPIC City Muslim community development, targeted the Islamic Tribunal as an alleged sharia court, and excluded Islamic private schools from the $1 billion voucher program.

Ballot breakdown, Bo French, Republican candidate for Railroad Commissioner: called for the outright ban of Islam at CPAC on a panel titled Don't Sharia My Texas, has called for Texas to ban Islam entirely, has called for Republicans to more openly embrace Islamophobia, polled his followers on whether Jews or Muslims are a bigger threat to America, and ran his campaign on anti-Islamic sentiments.

Ballot breakdown, Mayes Middleton, running for Attorney General: declared Texas a Christian state while equating Muslims with murder, pledged a statewide anti-Muslim enforcement division at a prayer service at DFW Airport, and promised to block CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood from buying land in Texas, stop so-called no-go zones and Islamic enclaves, make enforcement of Sharia law a felony, and use every tool in the Attorney General's office against it.

Influential figures, Ted Cruz: current sitting senator, not running in this election. Introduced the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR Terrorist Designation Act in 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2025, suggested the U.S. should kill Muslim Brotherhood members as an alternative to sanctions, and declared Sharia law shall never be allowed in the United States as a campaign rally cry.

Influential figures, Chip Roy: posted No More Muslims and claimed DFW airport has no-go zones, introduced the MAMDANI Act to deport and denaturalize Muslims, introduced anti-Muslim bills including the IMAM Act, which would ban imams, grand shaykhs, muftis and more from entering the U.S. on religious worker visas, and the CAIR Terrorist Designation Act, and established the Sharia Free Caucus.

Ballot breakdown, other anti-Muslim action: Keith Self (R-TX 3) says Sharia law and political Islam are incompatible with the U.S. Constitution and Western values. Brandon Gill (R-TX) posted No more Muslims immigrating to America. Aaron Reitz also claimed Islam is incompatible with Western civilization.

Next steps: Let's vote! Early voting October 19 to 30. Election Day November 3. QR codes for mail-in ballot information, checking your voter status, and polling stations near you.

Why your vote matters: CAIR Action Texas, Texas Muslim voter turnout as of October 24, 2026. The power is there, the turnout is missing. 325K registered Muslim voters, 39K voted, 286K votes left. Mail in your ballot by Tuesday, November 3 before 7 PM, vote early through Friday, October 30, or vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.

Conclusion: This election is about more than politics, it is about protecting the rights, dignity, and future of Muslim communities in Texas. Our voices, our votes, and our communities have the power to challenge Islamophobia and hold elected officials accountable. Make your voice heard and vote!

Thank you. Make your voice heard!

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Published by Kufi Productions