Reporting by Rich Matthews
FORT WORTH, Texas — As the Texas Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico continues, a campaign event in Fort Worth featured remarks about Muslims, Islam and Sharia law. Several speakers and attendees expressed fears about Muslims in Texas, while Paxton made stopping Sharia law part of his message to supporters.
Heated Rhetoric Before Paxton Takes the Stage
The event began with strong political language from speakers addressing the crowd. One speaker described the election as a choice between “truth and righteousness or unmitigated evil,” while another called Texas “this last stand for liberty for the entire Western world.”
Texas Senator Andy Hopper compared Islamists to cartels and linked them to drug trafficking, sex trafficking and other societal problems.
“That’s why we see Islamists trying to set up shop in Texas,” Hopper said, before referring to what he described as “awful forces from the Middle East and from South America.”
Attendees Express Fears About Muslims
Some attendees also made remarks about Muslims and Islam. One woman said she was concerned about what she described as a “Muslim takeover” in Texas.
“It’s an ideology. It’s not a religion,” she said, adding that she believed similar developments were happening in Europe.
Another attendee used a comparison involving a bowl of peanut M&M’s, saying she would not offer them to her children if she knew three were poisonous. The comparison was made while discussing Muslims and the attendee’s stated concerns about the possibility of harm.
Paxton Makes Stopping Sharia Law Part of His Message
When Paxton took the stage, he asked supporters whether they believed in “protecting Texas and stopping Sharia law.”
“Do you believe in protecting Texas and stopping Sharia law? So do I,” Paxton said.
He also spoke about parental rights and family finances before calling on supporters to join his campaign.
“While Talarico fights for his radical agenda, we fight for faith, family, and freedom. We fight for Texas’s future,” Paxton said.
Different Crowd Sizes at Campaign Events
Earlier in the week, Talarico drew a crowd of nearly 3,000 at an event in Dallas. The Paxton event in Fort Worth had fewer than 200 supporters, according to the report. Rich Matthews also reported that nearly half of those attending the Paxton event arrived by bus organized by a Paxton supporter.
One speaker at the event criticized Talarico, describing him as a “Democratic socialist” and comparing him to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Turnout Will Matter on Election Day
Despite the difference in crowd sizes, Matthews cautioned that attendance at campaign events does not determine election results.
“It’s all about getting out the vote,” he said, noting the challenge Democrats face in a state where many voters cast straight-ticket ballots.
WATCH: Rich Matthews reports from Fort Worth for Context Corner.