TEXAS — Anti-Muslim rhetoric has been reported in public interactions across Texas following a Republican primary runoff. Incidents included a man burning a Qur'an after approaching students who were praying at the University of Houston, and a woman was filmed verbally accosting two Muslim women in a grocery store, stating, "Islam is a terrorist organization, not a religion," and "This is not a Muslim country; this is a Christian country." A subsequent fundraiser for this woman raised nearly $145,000, and Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace expressed support for the fundraiser.

Naila Syed, a Dallas resident and member of the Islamic Center of North America Council for Social Justice, described how her two young daughters were confronted with anti-Islam talking points at school. Syed stated, "To have a kid who has these points ready and memorized like this is just very concerning as a parent." She added, "It definitely trickles down." Syed attended a state board of Education hearing in Austin concerning revisions to social studies standards. At least half a dozen speakers at the hearing objected to lessons about Muslim civilizations and the role of Islam in world history. Responding to the hearing, Syed stated, "I was just in shock." She added, "I would just look at them and be like, 'Hello, I'm right here. I'm a visible Muslim. I wear the hijab.'"

Muslim attendees at the Texas GOP convention were told to convert to Christianity or leave the country. Omar, a Texas GOP convention attendee, responded, "We care about the issues that every single American cares about." He added, "We are family people, we are fathers, we are husbands, we are employees, we are employers." Representative Nancy Mace and U.S. Representative Brandon Gill introduced legislation to prohibit or suspend immigration to the U.S. from certain countries, including Somalia. Gill, who represents Texas's 26th congressional district, sent an email to constituents titled "Stop Islamic Immigration Now or Our Children Will Pay the Price." The Republican party's official platform in Texas includes a legislative priority called "Don't Sharia Our Texas," which seeks to criminalize Sharia law. The Republican-controlled board of education advanced proposed social studies standards that emphasize American exceptionalism and Judeo-Christian influences, while reducing or removing some lessons related to slavery, segregation, civil rights, and instruction on world cultures and religions. Texas has two Muslim legislators.