In a sharp escalation of the Texas gubernatorial campaign, Governor Greg Abbott has accused his Democratic opponent, state Representative Gina Hinojosa, of supporting Sharia law and Islamic extremism, citing an endorsement she received from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a group that Texas has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
During an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, claimed that Hinojosa's acceptance of the endorsement reflects her alignment with radical Islamic principles. "Gina supports that endorsement that she got from them because she supports Sharia law, she supports Sharia communities," Abbott said. "What I'm focused on doing is making sure that we ban Sharia law, Sharia cities, Sharia compounds."
The governor's campaign also released a new advertisement on Sunday characterizing Hinojosa as "dangerous" for Texans, contrasting her "radical" positions with his own "common-sense" leadership. The ad highlights her opposition to certain border security measures and her support for policies that Abbott argues would increase taxes and provide taxpayer-funded healthcare to undocumented immigrants.
"Gina Hinojosa is too radical for Texas. She supports deadly open-border policies, higher taxes, and even wants to give illegal immigrants taxpayer-funded healthcare. Texans have a decision to make: the chaos that Gina Hinojosa would bring or the common-sense leadership of Governor Abbott," said Catherine Frazier, Abbott's communications director, in a statement.
The controversy stems from Hinojosa's vote against Senate Bill 1900, a Texas law signed by Abbott that allows the state to designate organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations. That vote has become a central point of attack for the Abbott campaign, which argues that Hinojosa's opposition to the bill demonstrates her sympathy for extremist groups.
Hinojosa's campaign has not yet responded directly to Abbott's latest accusations, but the issue of ties to Islamic groups has become a recurring theme in midterm elections across the country. In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed recently faced similar allegations regarding the Muslim Brotherhood, which he denied in an interview, saying, "I'm interested in serving the United States. I'm interested in swearing an oath to the constitution that every senator has sworn an oath to."
Political analysts note that Abbott's focus on Sharia law and CAIR may be aimed at energizing conservative voters in the final weeks before the election. The governor has also been campaigning on other issues, including border security and economic policy, but the religious liberty angle has become a prominent part of his messaging.
Hinojosa, who represents an Austin-based district, has emphasized her commitment to civil rights and religious freedom, arguing that Abbott's rhetoric is divisive and misleading. She has not yet released a formal statement on the latest attack, but her campaign is expected to push back in the coming days.
As the race tightens, both candidates are focusing on key voter blocs, with early voting already underway in Texas. The outcome could have significant implications for national politics, as Texas remains a key battleground for both parties. For more on the broader midterm landscape, see early voting trends and Democratic efforts in key states.
