Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a high-profile ladies’s rights activist who fled Sharia regulation, has endorsed Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, for re-election in a important Senate race that might decide whether or not the GOP retains its majority.
In a video asserting her endorsement, Ali, a speaker and writer who fled Somalia after struggling feminine genital mutilation, mentioned that “solely John Cornyn has a confirmed document of stopping radical Islamic extremism.”
“I’ve seen firsthand what radical Islam does to ladies, to households, and to nations who ignore the warning indicators. America will not be immune, and neither is Texas,” she went on, including, “That’s why expertise issues.”
This comes amid an already contentious Senate major race in Texas between Cornyn, who has held the seat since 2002, Texas Legal professional Basic Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas. President Donald Trump has not weighed in on the race, although he not too long ago hinted he might accomplish that, saying, “My drawback is I’m pleasant with all of them.”
Texas leaders have not too long ago sounded the alarm concerning the development of Sharia regulation within the Lone Star State. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott not too long ago issued a proclamation designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Muslim Brotherhood as “overseas terrorist organizations” and “transnational legal organizations” underneath Texas regulation.
Ali emphasised the significance of Cornyn’s expertise in pushing again towards Sharia regulation, taking refined jabs at Paxton and Hunt, who could be first-term senators.
She mentioned that Cornyn “has taken the menace severely when others select denial or political video games.”
“If you’d like a Texas that protects its folks and defends its values, you want a frontrunner who understands the hazard and is aware of tips on how to cease it,” she mentioned.
“To maintain Texas sturdy and secure from radical Islam, vote John Cornyn.”
In response, Cornyn instructed Fox Information Digital, “I’m honored to be endorsed by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who has spoken fearlessly concerning the risks of radical Islam from her personal expertise.”
Cornyn’s workplace pointed to a number of actions he has taken as senator to push again on Sharia Regulation within the U.S., together with not too long ago Introducing the Defeat Sharia Regulation in America Act, which the workplace mentioned goals to make clear that discriminating primarily based on Sharia Regulation is a violation of the Civil Rights Act, co-sponsoring the No Sharia Act, which it mentioned prohibits U.S. courts from imposing overseas legal guidelines or judgments that violate the Structure and calling on the U.S. Division of Justice to analyze “EPIC Ranches Metropolis” in Texas, a master-planned growth that allegedly marketed itself as a Muslims-only group.
In 2025, Cornyn additionally launched laws to strip the tax-exempt standing from organizations that present materials assist to designated terrorist teams, particularly focusing on CAIR. He additionally co-sponsored the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act, which directs the Secretary of State to designate the group as a Overseas Terrorist Group.
“For a few years now, I’ve labored to confront this radical ideology, from working to ban Sharia Regulation, to figuring out, arresting and prosecuting terrorist organizations, and calling on the DOJ to analyze the EPIC Metropolis growth,” Cornyn mentioned. “I’ll proceed to guard Texans from the specter of radical Islamic ideology anyplace in our nation.”
Ali’s endorsement comes simply over two weeks till the GOP’s major election day in Texas.
Cornyn, a high-ranking Senate Republican, has additionally been endorsed by the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee in addition to the Nationwide Border Patrol Council.
In the meantime, Paxton, who has served as the highest legal professional for Texas since 2015, was not too long ago endorsed by Turning Level Motion, the political arm of the late Charlie Kirk’s Turning Level USA. Hunt, a U.S. Military veteran, has been endorsed by Veterans for America First.
Each Paxton and Hunt have additionally spoken out towards Sharia Regulation in Texas. Paxton sued CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, in search of to close them down and bar their operations in Texas. He additionally sued the builders behind EPIC as nicely, arguing they violated Texas securities regulation by promoting funding pursuits with out correct registration and by failing to confirm accredited investor standing as required.
Hunt has mentioned Sharia regulation is “utterly incompatible with the founding rules of america of America” and argued it should not have any place in U.S. authorized or civic methods.
All three Republican candidates have touted their assist for Trump and their data of supporting his agenda of their respective workplaces.
Trump not too long ago instructed reporters that he might weigh in on the first race quickly, saying, “I’m giving it a really severe look.”
“You understand, my drawback is I’m pleasant with all of them. I like all of them, all three,” Trump mentioned.
“However you’ll be seeing quickly,” he went on. “They are saying whoever I endorse wins. That’s in all probability proper.”
Whichever Republican emerges victorious from the first election will face off towards both main Democratic voice Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, or progressive rising star state Rep. James Talarico.
In keeping with Paxton’s workplace, Ali will seem at a marketing campaign roundtable with spiritual leaders in North Texas later this week.
