State Rep. James Talarico (D‑District 50) visited Irving on October 19 for a Muslim Texan community meet‑and‑greet organized by local activists. The gathering, promoted on Facebook by participant Emad Salem, featured photographs of Talarico seated with attendees and a list of North Texas elected officials in attendance.
Local officials and advocacy groups present
The event included Richardson Mayor Amir Omar, Irving City Councilman Fahad Ahmed, and State Rep. Salman Bhojani (D‑District 92). Amy Mek, founder and editor‑in‑chief of the RAIR Foundation, highlighted Talarico’s connections to Muslim advocacy groups in a post on X.
Mayor Omar used the occasion to promote Texas American Muslim University (TexAM), offering to link the school with local employers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) sued TexAM in May, alleging the school offered unauthorized degrees, but the lawsuit did not name Omar as a defendant.
Political endorsements and voter outreach
Councilman Ahmed recently received an endorsement from Irving Muslims PAC in his 2026 city‑council race. The PAC says it aims to build an independent Muslim voting bloc and advocates for equal treatment of mosques and Islamic schools in zoning decisions, religious‑freedom protections, and parental‑rights issues.
Emgage Action, a Muslim American political advocacy group, listed Talarico as its endorsed candidate for the U.S. Senate and Bhojani for Texas House District 92. In a January 2026 campaign document addressed to Muslim Texans, Talarico emphasized his work on marriage‑ceremony legislation, religious‑holiday observances, and school‑testing accommodations, framing his approach as protecting Americans’ freedom to practice any religion—or none.
Legislative history on marriage‑ceremony laws
Talarico filed House Bill 2039 in 2021, originally proposing to add Muslim imams to the list of officials authorized to perform marriages alongside Christian ministers, priests, and Jewish rabbis. The House‑passed version removed specific references to Christian clergy and Jewish rabbis, instead using a general provision covering any religious organization that authorizes officiants. The bill passed the House on April 15, 2021, but was referred to the Senate State Affairs Committee on April 19 and never became law.
In 2025, Talarico co‑authored House Bill 1044, which would have explicitly added Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh officiants to Texas marriage law while retaining Christian and Jewish clergy. The measure cleared a House committee but also failed to become law.
Broader Muslim voter outreach in Texas
The Irving gathering occurs amid a coordinated effort by national and state groups to mobilize Muslim voters. The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) lists Texas as one of twelve priority states in its election plan, which includes mosque‑based registration drives, early‑voting outreach, and transportation to polling places. CAIR describes the program as nonpartisan and does not endorse any candidates.
Texas’ in‑person early voting runs from October 19‑30 for the November 3 election, giving voters ample time to cast ballots.
Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.
