“Sharia Law will be completely banned in Texas,” Abbott says after GOP primary vote
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says “Sharia Law will be completely banned in Texas” next legislative session after Republican primary voters overwhelmingly backed a nonbinding ballot proposition calling for such a ban.
In a post Wednesday, Abbott said 95% of Republican primary voters supported banning Sharia law and added he is “100%” certain it will be “completely banned” in the next session. He tied the pledge to a law he signed last year aimed at blocking what his office called “Sharia compounds” or discriminatory, religion-based developments.
What is actually happening
The “95%” figure comes from a Texas GOP primary ballot proposition—essentially an internal party preference poll that does not change state law by itself but can shape the agenda Republicans pursue when the Legislature meets.
Republican primary propositions often matter in Texas because Republicans control statewide offices and the Legislature, making it easier to convert those priorities into legislation.
Why Abbott says he’s confident
Abbott’s confidence rests on two things:
- Republican voter signal: The proposition result gives GOP leaders political cover to push a bill and claim they’re following voters’ direction.
- Abbott’s recent track record: Abbott has already made “Sharia” a high-profile issue, including signing a 2025 law his office said was meant to prevent “Sharia compounds” and what he described as discriminatory developments.
What a “Sharia ban” could mean in practice
Abbott’s post does not specify the bill language lawmakers would use. Texas already operates under the U.S. and Texas constitutions, and courts have repeatedly scrutinized “anti-Sharia” measures in other states when they appear to target a religion rather than address neutral legal concerns. The exact impact in Texas would depend on how any proposal is drafted and whether it focuses on things like foreign-law considerations in civil cases or broader religious practice concerns.
For now, the concrete development is political: Republican voters signaled strong support on a party proposition, and Abbott is using that result to argue the Legislature should act when it convenes.
