Three leading Democratic candidates for Wisconsin governor each pledged to veto any legislation prohibiting the use of Sharia law in the state if elected.
The commitment came during a gubernatorial forum co-hosted by the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance and the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Foundation, where candidates were asked whether they would reject legislation that supporters say unfairly targets Muslims.
All three candidates—state Rep. Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and state Sen. Kelda Roys—answered yes.
Their responses quickly became a flashpoint in Wisconsin’s increasingly contentious race to replace Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is not seeking another term.
Candidates Reject Anti-Sharia Legislation
The forum was billed as an opportunity for Wisconsin’s Muslim community to engage directly with gubernatorial candidates on issues important to them.
Before asking the question, the moderator defined Sharia as “path” in Arabic and described it as a set of religious principles governing personal aspects of Muslim life, including prayer, diet, marriage, and family matters.
The moderator compared Sharia to Catholic canon law and Jewish halakha, arguing that legislation targeting it would unfairly single out one religion and potentially violate First Amendment protections.
Candidates were then asked whether they would veto any anti-Sharia legislation that reached their desks as governor.
Hong, Barnes, and Roys each indicated they would.
Republicans Seize on the Issue
The responses immediately drew criticism from Republicans, who argue that the issue is not about restricting religious freedom but ensuring American civil law always takes precedence.
Republican Governors Association Communications Director Kollin Crompton blasted the candidates’ answers.
“Sharia Law is an extreme ideology, and these radical Democrats are willing to put Sharia Law above Wisconsin values,” Crompton said. “Wisconsinites will fully reject them.”
Republicans argue that anti-Sharia laws exist precisely to prevent foreign or religious legal codes from being recognized in American courts when they conflict with constitutional rights or state law.
Why Anti-Sharia Laws Exist
Anti-Sharia legislation generally does not ban Muslims from practicing their faith.
Instead, such laws typically prohibit courts from enforcing foreign legal systems or religious codes when they violate constitutional protections or state public policy.
More than a dozen states have enacted some form of foreign law or anti-Sharia legislation over the past decade, though supporters often frame the measures broadly enough to apply to any foreign legal code rather than Islam specifically.
Supporters argue the laws are preventative, ensuring that constitutional rights—not religious doctrine—remain the ultimate authority in American courts.
The Democratic Field
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist serving in the Wisconsin Assembly, has become one of the party’s most progressive voices. She has pledged to veto legislation restricting transgender medical procedures for minors and has advocated expanding taxpayer-funded access to what supporters characterize as gender-affirming care.
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes previously mounted an unsuccessful Senate challenge against Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in 2022. Barnes has supported abolishing ICE, allowing illegal immigrants to receive driver’s licenses and in-state tuition, expanding government-run healthcare, and reducing police and corrections spending.
State Sen. Kelda Roys has built her campaign around gun control, supporting expanded background checks, red-flag laws, and additional restrictions on where firearms may be carried.
Republicans Already Have Their Favorite
On the Republican side, President Donald Trump endorsed Congressman Tom Tiffany months before the primary campaign fully took shape.
Trump described Tiffany as a “Highly Respected America First Congressman” and gave him his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Tiffany has campaigned on freezing property taxes, preventing Chinese ownership of Wisconsin farmland, protecting women’s sports, cutting regulations, and advancing other conservative priorities.
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