First-ever Muslims elected to Texas House reflect on their wins: 'A very proud moment.'

As early voting began this year, Democratic Texas House candidate Dr. Suleman Lalani wasn’t facing attacks from his opponent's campaign based on his politics or policy preferences, nor any dug-up dirty laundry or past statements. The vitriol was tied to Lalani's religion. Republican Dan Mathews' campaign touted his service as a "Christian minister" in an automated text message that many Fort Bend County voters received, calling for them to stop Lalani from becoming "the First MUSLIM" in Texas state government. Lalani took a moment before reacting, consulting with family members and trusted mentors. He recalled former First Lady Michelle Obama’s catchphrase: “When they go low, we go high.”

Then he told his supporters on Twitter: “Our opponent is hoping Fort Bend voters choose based on fear and hate. Fort Bend is a loving coalition of races, religions, and ethnicities. Together we win over hate.” Two weeks later, he and another Pakistani-American Democrat made history. Lalani and Salman Bhojani in Tarrant County’s 92nd District were elected to be the first Muslims and South Asians to serve in the Texas Legislature. For Bhojani, 42, it was a full-circle moment to be elected to the Texas House seat once held by Jonathan Stickland, a Republican who had bullied him in a 2018 race for Euless City Council, his first political campaign. In a Facebook post titled “EULESS RESIDENTS BEWARE,” Stickland identified Bhojani as a Muslim and included a clip of local Boy Scout troop members leading an invocation prayer from the Quran at a council meeting. That was "thanks to Mr. Bhojani,” whose “ideas for our community would scare a majority of our residents," the post read. In January, Bhojani will be the first person of color to represent Texas House District 92, in the state's largest urban county that's still Republican. “I’m humbled by that,” Bhohani said. “There may be so many people out there who may be seeing that example and saying, yes, someone can do it in a very conservative area and upholding to the Muslim values … That’s what my effort has always been: to be that example.”