Anti-Muslim rhetoric has increased among Republican elected officials, especially during the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. At the event, several speakers warned that left-wing groups and "Islamists" were forming an alliance that threatens American values. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) claimed that "communists and Islamists" are uniting to take over the Democratic Party, arguing that both groups share enemies like Christians, Jews, capitalism, the Constitution, and America itself. His comments reflect a broader trend of linking progressive politics with Islam in a way that frames both as threats to traditional American identity. Former Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican Senate candidate in Michigan, attempted to tie his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, to the 9/11 attacks by criticizing El-Sayed’s association with a progressive commentator, Hasan Piker. Rogers suggested that Piker believes America "deserved" the attacks, and that both he and El-Sayed are undermining national security by excusing extremism. This kind of rhetoric is part of a larger pattern in which Republican lawmakers have increasingly targeted Muslim individuals and communities in the lead-up to the midterms. Republican representatives have made explicit anti-Muslim statements in recent months. For example, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) claimed that "Muslims don’t belong in American society," while Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) said that "we need more Islamophobia, not less." Other lawmakers, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), have called for the exclusion of Muslims from American life. Even state-level officials, like Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith, have described Islam as a "demonic death cult." These statements have been accompanied by legislative efforts, such as the creation of a "Sharia Free America Caucus" in the House, which includes only Republican members. Journalist Rozina Ali, author of Seasons of Fury, has highlighted how the political climate has shifted since the October 7 attacks in Israel, with some Republican leaders describing the conflict as a "religious war." Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has echoed this idea, a departure from the rhetoric that followed the 9/11 attacks. Ali notes that this shift has allowed more open criticism of the government, but Muslim critics, like El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani, often face harsher backlash than non-Muslim critics. She also points out that while some anti-Muslim rhetoric may be aimed at winning elections, there is a deeper effort to reshape how Islam is perceived in the U.S., including attempts to frame it as a political ideology rather than a religion.