Texas’ First Muslim Elected To State Legislature Urges Community to Vote “No” For Stein and Trump And “Yes” For Harris

Dr Jill Stein 

However, I believe voting for Stein is a misstep. The reality is, our winner-take-all system simply isn’t built for third parties to succeed on a national scale. Take the 1992 election as an example: voters dissatisfied with both parties turned to Ross Perot, who, despite winning 19% of the popular vote—a feat Stein is unlikely to match—still earned zero Electoral College votes.

There is material risk in voting for a third party. Supporting Stein, however well-intentioned, could inadvertently raise Trump’s chances. The stakes are simply too high for that gamble.

I welcome a conversation about the restrictions of a two-party system, but change won’t come from a protest vote—it requires engaging in sustained advocacy at the local level, supporting reforms like ranked-choice voting, nonpartisan primaries, independent redistricting, and, critically, promoting consistent advocacy in between election cycles.

Trump’s policies reflect a deeply dangerous and bigoted approach on all fronts. Internationally, he took unprecedented steps to escalate tensions by moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, and defending illegal West Bank settlements, shattering international consensus and dismissing the Palestinian plight. His talk of letting Israel 'finish the job' reveals his intent to remove the few existing constraints on Israel’s actions in Gaza. 

Donald Trump, left; Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right

His withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal—a diplomatic achievement that had brought a measure of balance to the region—only fueled further instability. A second Trump term would threaten the delicate balance in the region, likely worsening these issues and putting Palestinians, Americans, and the broader region in an increasingly precarious position. 

Domestically, Trump’s past actions give a troubling glimpse of what another term could bring. Within days of taking office, he enacted the Muslim Ban—one of the most overtly discriminatory policies in recent memory.

Entire nationalities, predominantly Muslim, were banned from entering the U.S., dangerously conflating innocent Muslims with terrorists and undoing years of work by activists across America who have built understanding and fought stereotypes. Though it was ultimately overturned by the courts, we can no longer expect that backstop to protect us after Trump’s four years of judicial appointments.

Many of you, like myself, know what it was like to grow up in a post-9/11 world where American Muslims were unfairly viewed with suspicion and painted as outsiders.

Children walking with flags

We worked hard to dismantle those stereotypes and foster understanding, but Trump’s agenda threatens to undo that progress. So let me ask you: do you want to relive that?  Do we want our children and community to live in a world where being Muslim makes them targets? Trump’s policies undermine the democratic principles that protect our right to fair representation. We cannot let him drag us back into an era of fear and discrimination. 

State Rep. Salman Bhojani, a Democrat from Euless, takes the oath of office on a copy of the Quran on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session

 In light of these challenges, we must consider who will truly support and amplify Muslim voices. Why, then, should we support Kamala Harris? While the Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policy in the Middle East has been deeply flawed, they have taken meaningful steps to include Muslims in government—a necessary move to ensure our voices are heard. 

Unlike Trump, who appointed known Islamophobes like Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn, and Sebastian Gorka, Harris has supported actual Muslim leaders, appointing Lina Khan as Chair of the FTC, Dilawar Syed as Deputy Administrator of the SBA, and Rashad Hussain as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, among others.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian American elected to the second highest office in the United States

These actions are crucial because they ensure Muslim perspectives are included in decision-making, breaking the echo chambers that often neglect our interests. Securing our representation at home is vital for advocating for Muslims worldwide, addressing injustices, and promoting peace within our global community.

As the first Muslim elected to the Texas Legislature, I can personally attest to the difference it makes when we hold these positions. When I first entered politics, I faced Islamophobia head-on; my identity as a Muslim was used against me, and stereotypes were weaponized to discredit my work. 

But since then, I’ve been able to combat those stereotypes by working across the aisle to pass meaningful legislation here in Texas—like the bill I passed ensuring no exams are scheduled on Eid and other holy days, so students can pray and celebrate with their families. It’s in these roles that real change happens, where stereotypes are dismantled and our interests are represented.

Voting for Harris isn’t about settling; it’s about choosing a practical path that can advance our interests while preventing a far greater threat. I urge Muslims to recognize the power of having a seat at the table and the importance of preventing Trump from returning to the White House. Let’s vote for Kamala Harris and move forward with a plan to make meaningful, achievable change. 

Salman Bhojani has represented District 92 (Tarrant County) in the Texas House of Representatives since 2023. He was the first South Asian and Muslim elected to the Texas Legislature.