The use of Islamophobia as a political strategy in Texas is being used as a tool to further demonize Muslims and immigrants in the state, according to Ali Sohail Ishaq, an Austinite and practicing Muslim, who believes this is becoming more prevalent. Since November, the start of the 2026 March primary election season, Texas GOP candidates have used anti-Muslim rhetoric in their campaign materials and messaging to their base. Incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, who are competing for the U.S. Senate seat in November against Democrat James Talarico, have both made policy against the "Islamification of Texas" a central issue in their campaigns. The mass shooting at Buford’s bar in Austin, which killed four people and injured 15 more on March 1, was also used as fodder for anti-Islamophobic rhetoric by state and federal Republicans. The shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, was a naturalized U-S. citizen from Senegal, had worn clothing with imagery of an Iranian flag and had previously worn clothing that read “Property of Allah” with an Islamic flag.