CAIR Action Backs Hundreds Of Texas Candidates. Who Made Its DFW List?

CAIR Action, a political affiliate of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), recommends 369 Texas candidates for the November 3 general election. Its full endorsements include Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons (D-Precinct 2), congressional candidate Frederick D. Haynes III and state Rep. Salman Bhojani (D-District 92).

Texas has the largest combined support list among the 26 states in the November 3 guide, an October 22 review by The Dallas Express found. The Texas tally includes 59 candidates labeled “Endorsed,” four with a “Joint Endorsement” designation and 306 labeled “Preferred.”

Who made the DFW list

CAIR Action’s full endorsements include the following 18 candidates for offices serving DFW counties. All 18 appear as Democrats in the Texas secretary of state’s general-election certification. Simmons is challenging Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare (R).

Counties identify DFW areas served by each office, based on the state’s ballot certification. Districts may cover only part of a county and may extend beyond DFW.

Other North Texas and statewide choices

The separate “Preferred” category includes Amber Givens for Dallas County district attorney, Tiffany Burks for Tarrant County district attorney, John R. Buster Brown for Collin County judge and Nick Pappas for Denton County judge. State Sen. Taylor Rehmet (D-District 9) and Texas House District 91 candidate Yisak Worku also receive that rating.

Worku previously acknowledged his Democratic Socialists of America affiliation while disputing allegations that he had tried to hide it from voters, The Dallas Express reported.

The guide also lists “Preferred” candidates for Keller, Princeton and Wylie school board contests. These ratings represent a different level of support from the full endorsements above.

Statewide, CAIR Action endorses state Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-District 47) for lieutenant governor. It lists state Rep. James Talarico (D-District 50) for U.S. Senate, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-District 49) for governor and state Sen. Nathan Johnson (D-District 16) for attorney general as “Preferred.”

California leads in full endorsements, with 160, but its 241 positive recommendations fall below Texas’ 369. The count covers candidates, including joint choices in the same race, and excludes ballot measures, primary elections and recommendations against candidates.

CAIR Action describes itself as a 501(c)(4) affiliate of CAIR. Its stated vision includes a future in which Muslims “yield significant political power” to advance policies at home and abroad.

Why Abbott designated CAIR

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations under Texas law on November 18, 2025. His proclamation barred them from purchasing or acquiring Texas land and cited state authority for heightened penalties.

Abbott accused the organizations of seeking “to forcibly impose Sharia law” and supporting terrorism, his office’s announcement said.

The proclamation cited CAIR’s listing as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, alleged Hamas connections and the FBI’s decision to suspend formal contacts.

A federal jury in Dallas convicted the Holy Land Foundation and five leaders in 2008 of providing material support to Hamas. The case involved about $12.4 million in support, according to Justice Department records.

Foundation leader Ghassan Elashi was sentenced to 65 years in prison in 2009. Abbott’s proclamation identifies him as a founding board member of CAIR’s Texas branch.

CAIR was not a defendant in the case, and its unindicted co-conspirator listing did not amount to a criminal conviction.

Trial evidence linked CAIR and its founders to the Palestine Committee, and that committee to Hamas, FBI Assistant Director Richard C. Powers wrote in an April 28, 2009, letter entered into the Congressional Record. The bureau said it had suspended formal contacts while questions about a CAIR-Hamas connection remained unresolved. It added that the decision was not a blanket judgment of the organization or its membership.

The proclamation also accused CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad of praising Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, citing his November 24, 2023, remarks.

CAIR denies supporting terrorism or being connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. It says Awad’s remarks were misrepresented and that he condemned attacks on civilians. Its Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin chapters challenged Abbott’s proclamation in federal court, alleging violations of free speech, due process and property rights.

Texas is a voter mobilization priority

CAIR’s national election plan names 12 priority states receiving expanded organizing support: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The plan sets a national goal of 2 million net new Muslim voter registrations during the 2026 cycle. It calls for mosque and college registration drives, voter guides, early-voting outreach and trips to polling places after Friday prayers. The registration figure is a goal, rather than a reported achievement.

CAIR describes that registration campaign as nonpartisan and says it does not endorse or oppose candidates. Its separately organized affiliate, CAIR Action, publishes candidate recommendations.

Farooq’s separate McKinney remarks

Muslim cleric Uthman ibn Farooq said “we want Islam for this country” during a September 18 gathering at Sufaraa Center in McKinney, The Federalist reported. He said he wanted what he considered best for the country and defended Muslims’ constitutional right to believe in Sharia. The Dallas Express examined the speech in October 2 coverage.

Farooq’s remarks were separate from CAIR Action’s guide and do not establish the positions of the organization or its recommended candidates.

How the group selects candidates

CAIR Action says it evaluates candidates through questionnaires, research into public statements and voting records, and consultation with community leaders. It says endorsed candidates strongly align with its priorities. “Preferred” candidates may not fully align but represent a better alternative to their opponents, the group says.

The organization’s policy page calls for current and prospective leaders to “pledge to champion the rights of American Muslims.” It criticizes FBI watchlists and no-fly lists as national-security overreach and seeks changes to Justice and Homeland Security department guidelines that it says permit racial and religious bias. Other listed priorities include immigration policy, constitutional protections in schools and foreign policy.

A published recommendation does not establish that a candidate requested it, completed a questionnaire, received financial support or made policy commitments.

The Dallas Express contacted CAIR Action about who approved the Texas list, how it assigned ratings, candidate questionnaires and any financial or in-kind campaign support. A response remained pending.

Early voting continues through October 30. Election Day is November 3.