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

Republicans are using extremism and sharia-law claims to attack Democratic opponents as Muslim political power rises, according to Reuters and Pew Research Center.

  • Ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, Republican candidates are increasingly integrating Muslims and Islam into their campaign rhetoric to attack Democratic opponents and regain control of Congress from President Donald Trump's Republican Party.
  • Experts note this rhetoric reflects a broader effort to gain political traction amid Republican challenges, including the cost of living and the US-Israeli war on Iran, though targeting minorities has a long history in US campaigns.
  • In Michigan, Republican Vice President Vance called Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed "very, very evil" last week, while Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott urged federal probes into airport prayer rooms.
  • Muslim Americans have reached unprecedented political representation with several elected to the House, while Democratic Mayor John Whitmire stated Houston airport facilities are "open to all travelers, employees and stakeholders" regardless of faith.
  • With Trump's approval rating stuck at around 33%, some Republicans push legislation to "tackle the rise" of sharia law, while public attitudes toward Israel are shifting among Democratic voters ahead of the midterms.
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Lean Right

The American vice president, Republican J.D. Vance, called Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim and Democrat candidate for the U.S. Senate for Michigan, "very evil" at a rally last week and accused him of defending terrorism for statements made after an attack in March against a synagogue on the outskirts of Detroit. In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who is fighting a tight election in search of another mandate, attacked a real estate project led b…

·Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Lean Left

REPUBLIKANSKI političari u SAD-u koriste antimuslimansku retoriku uoči izbora, ciljajući kandidate poput Abdula El-Sayeda i namećući islam kao temu campanje radi političkih bodova.

·Zagreb, Croatia
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WTVB broke the news on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
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