Muslims emerge as a campaign issue for Republicans ahead of 2026 US midterms

During a recent rally, Republican Vice President JD Vance described Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim Democrat seeking a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, as "very, very evil," claiming he supported terrorism due to his comments following a March attack on a Detroit-area synagogue.

In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott, currently in a tight re-election contest, targeted a planned Muslim-led real estate project and requested an inquiry into alleged attempts to set up "sharia courts", a claim denied by both civil rights advocates and the developers.

In Alabama, where Muslim residents represent under 0.5% of the population, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, warned that "the enemy is inside the gates" when referring to what he termed radical Islam.


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Muslims become a campaign issue

These statements highlight a strategy to integrate Muslims and Islam into political debates ahead of the November 3 midterms, which will decide whether Democrats can regain control of Congress from President Donald Trump's Republican Party.

Critics argue this political messaging unfairly demonizes Muslims, whereas Republicans maintain they are raising legitimate concerns regarding security, radicalism, and religious influence in the public sphere.

According to Abbott campaign spokesperson Eduardo Leal, the Texas governor's actions concerning the real estate project targeted alleged unlawful behavior rather than religious practice.

Pew Research Center estimates show the U.S. Muslim population has grown to roughly 5.5 million people (about 1.6% of the country), up from 2.4 million in 2007.

Over the past year, American Muslims have achieved unprecedented political representation. New York City elected its first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, while El-Sayed could become the nation's first Muslim U.S. Senator. Last year, Ghazala Hashmi became the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office after winning the lieutenant governorship in Virginia.

This line of attack has also surfaced in U.S. House races.

Texas Republican Representatives Keith Self and Chip Roy formed a "Sharia Free America Caucus," while Florida Republican Representative Randy Fine introduced a bill he states will "tackle the rise" of sharia law in the United States.

Aides for Fine did not reply to requests for comment.

El-Sayed at center of debate

As the nation's sole Muslim candidate for statewide office, the American-born El-Sayed has become a primary target of anti-Islamic commentary.

Vance's attacks focused on statements El-Sayed made after a driver rammed a vehicle into a suburban Detroit synagogue in March while children were present. El-Sayed denounced the assault but remarked that "hurt people hurt people," adding that several of the driver's relatives in Lebanon were recently killed in an Israeli airstrike.

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El-Sayed subsequently noted his comments might have been misinterpreted and issued an apology.

Pushing back against Vance's criticism, El-Sayed stated last month: "Evil is ripping healthcare away from working people in exchange for tax breaks for billionaires. Evil is making people pay more for groceries and gas while pushing for trade wars and actual war. Evil is dividing people for your own gain."

Republicans have additionally faulted El-Sayed for his connections to Hasan Piker, a left-wing digital creator who previously stated that the United States deserved the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

During a podcast appearance, El-Sayed addressed feelings of social isolation among many Americans—which he attributed to mobile devices and social media—and contrasted that with the strong sense of community experienced by his relatives in Egypt.

Tuberville responded on X, writing: "If you hate America so much, go live in Egypt."

Campaign aides for Tuberville did not respond to comment requests.

Debate Over political motives

Voter skepticism toward Trump remains high, with his approval rating stagnant near 33%. Primary voter anxieties center on rising costs of living, the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, and Trump's international trade tariffs.

Public sentiment regarding Israel has undergone a noticeable shift, particularly among Democrats, as polling indicates rising empathy for Palestinians and growing resistance to U.S. military aid.

Aaron Hughes, an Islamic and Judaic scholar at the University of Rochester, noted that the spotlight on Muslims comes as Republicans struggle to find leverage on issues like inflation, immigration, and the war in Iran.

"If you can wrap yourself in the flag and you can criticize Muslims and Islam that means you don't really have to deal with the issues," he explained via phone, calling the tactic "fear-mongering."

"You're taking this gross characterization of a community and making connections with Hamas, with Iran ... I find it most shocking that there's this conflation," Hughes added.

He pointed out that these political attacks occur despite many Muslims sharing conservative principles with the Republican platform, such as restrictions on certain abortion procedures and opposition to same-sex marriage.

While political campaigns in the U.S. have a long record of targeting minority populations, analysts note the messaging has grown significantly sharper.

Exactly two years ago, several Republican candidates, including Trump, pushed false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating local pets.

"They're eating the dogs! The people that came in. They're eating the cats! They're eating ... the pets of the people that live there," Trump claimed during a 2024 presidential debate.

Although Trump is not running in this cycle, low public approval for his leadership could prove troublesome for fellow party candidates.

Ashik Siddique, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, emphasized that anti-Muslim sentiment is not unique to one party, saying, "Unfortunately sometimes Democrats in leadership have also fed into this" anti-Islamic framing.

He highlighted a radio appearance by Andrew Cuomo during his independent run for New York City mayor last October prior to his defeat by Mamdani.

"Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat" during the September 11, 2001, attack? Cuomo asked the host.

Beyond the campaign trail

These tensions have spilled over past electoral politics.

In August, Governor Abbott requested a federal investigation into Islamic ritual washing facilities at two Texas airports, maintaining that publicly owned facilities should not give preference to any single religion. Abbott's campaign denied that the action targeted Muslims due to their faith.

Houston Democratic Mayor John Whitmire clarified that the airports' prayer and ablution spaces are "open to all travelers, employees and stakeholders" regardless of religious affiliation, emphasizing that "nobody receives preferential access, and nobody is excluded."

(With inputs from Agency)