CAIR Action, a political affiliate of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, refused to release its candidate questionnaires or Texas operating budget in written answers to The Dallas Express after recommending hundreds of Texas candidates for the November 3 election.
Asked to release the underlying questionnaires and criteria, the team replied: “We don’t release internal questionnaires, evaluation materials or individual candidate responses.”
CAIR’s political goals and record
CAIR Action’s website envisions a future in which Muslims “yield significant political power” to advance policies at home and abroad. Its policy page calls for leaders to “pledge to champion the rights of American Muslims.”
CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad outlined a scholarship plan at East Plano Islamic Center in August 2024 to develop an “army” of 50,000 Muslim journalists, lawyers and academics, some of whom could run for public office, The Dallas Express previously reported, citing MEMRI’s account of the speech.
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 cited CAIR’s unindicted co-conspirator listing in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing case, the FBI’s suspension of formal contacts and Awad’s November 2023 remarks about October 7. CAIR’s listing did not amount to a criminal conviction.
Awad said he “was happy to see” Palestinians breaking out of Gaza. He later said he meant people who did not attack civilians and condemned attacks on Israeli civilians. CAIR denies supporting terrorism and challenged Abbott’s designation.
CAIR Action described itself as an independent 501(c)(4) advocacy organization and CAIR as a separate 501(c)(3) civil rights organization with its own board and programs. According to the response, CAIR does not endorse candidates and has no input into CAIR Action’s voter guide.
Texas recommendations and unanswered questions
The response follows an October 22 review by The Dallas Express that identified 369 positive Texas recommendations: 59 full endorsements, four joint endorsements and 306 preferred selections. The guide includes full endorsements for Tarrant County judge candidate Alisa Simmons and congressional candidate Frederick D. Haynes III.
In its written answers, CAIR Action acknowledged that its evaluation process can include candidate questionnaires and conversations. It did not identify which Texas candidates participated in either process.
CAIR Action described “Endorsed” as a designation for candidates whose platforms align with its priorities and who demonstrate a tangible commitment to them. It said “Preferred” identifies a candidate whose record and positions best match its priorities without meeting the full endorsement standard. Multiple candidates in one race may receive a joint endorsement.
The organization said it examines public records and candidates’ stated positions and, where applicable, reviews questionnaire responses and speaks with candidates. It denied that endorsements constitute an exchange for campaign or policy commitments. It directed readers to its public methodology and voter guide.
Campaign support and Texas funding
“CAIR Action made no direct contributions to Texas candidates and provided no campaign volunteers, candidate-directed advertisements, or other campaign assistance,” the team said.
It said its Texas outreach instead concentrates on educating and mobilizing voters, including encouraging them to consult its voter guide. The organization also said it makes no independent expenditures or other expenditures to actively support or oppose candidates.
Asked about Texas funding, CAIR Action said it does not disclose internal state budgets but reports political activity as the law requires. The response did not include financial documents.
