U.S. Senator John Cornyn encountered pushback from Republican allies after posting about the recent Frisco mayoral election on social media. The post highlighted the victory of Mark Hill, who defeated businessman Rod Vilhauer with 58.12% of the vote in the runoff. Hill, a former Frisco ISD board president, also secured the backing of the American Hindu Coalition, which urged South Asian American communities to participate in the election.
Critics argued that Cornyn’s commentary ignored ongoing concerns regarding immigration and Sharia law. U.S. Representative Brandon Gill challenged Cornyn’s stance, referencing the senator’s recent primary defeat by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Meanwhile, Vilhauer had centered his campaign on opposing Sharia influence, stating during a forum that individuals governed by such laws were not welcome in the city.
Cornyn later shared commentary from writer Eric Michael Garcia, who criticized the GOP for rhetoric targeting Pakistanis and South Asians. Garcia noted that these communities often support Republican candidates but are being alienated by Islamophobic messaging. The controversy follows the 2026 Texas Republican Convention, where delegates made Sharia law a legislative priority.
