Seventy-seven percent of American voters fear radical Islam’s creeping influence, a stark warning that cultural integration hangs by a thread in Trump’s second term.
Story Snapshot
- Rasmussen poll of 1,145 likely voters shows 77% concerned about radical Islam’s influence, with 41% very concerned.
- Overwhelming opposition to Sharia-governed Muslim communities: 74% Republicans, 54% Democrats, 62% unaffiliated.
- Muslim candidates deter 57% of Republicans but only 20% of Democrats, exposing deep partisan rifts.
- Texas lawmakers seize poll data to demand Sharia ban hearings in Austin, signaling state-level pushback.
- 81% of Trump voters express concern versus 43% of Harris voters, aligning with conservative security priorities.
Poll Reveals Widespread Voter Alarm
Rasmussen Reports surveyed 1,145 likely U.S. voters on January 7-8 and 11, 2026. Seventy-seven percent voiced concern over radical Islam’s influence in America. Forty-one percent rated their worry as very high. Only 18% reported no concern. Pulse Opinion Research conducted the telephone and online poll with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points at 95% confidence.
Demographics cut across party lines. Women showed 64% concern. Older voters and whites opposed Muslim candidates most strongly. The poll distinguished radical Islam from broader Islam, focusing on security and integration threats.
Opposition to Sharia Communities Solidifies
Voters rejected separate Sharia-governed Muslim communities decisively. Republicans opposed by 74%, Democrats by 54%, and unaffiliated by 62%. This stance reflects common-sense demands for legal uniformity under the Constitution. Facts from the poll align with conservative values prioritizing national unity over parallel legal systems.
Sharia’s incompatibility with American freedoms fuels this resistance. Texas lawmakers cited the poll on January 16, 2026, to call for hearings banning Sharia law. A firebrand state representative pushed an Austin showdown, turning voter sentiment into action.
Post-2024 election dynamics amplified divides. Eighty-one percent of Trump voters worried about radical Islam, compared to 43% of Harris voters. This gap underscores how security issues mobilize conservative bases ahead of midterms.
Partisan Divides Shape Candidate Viability
A Muslim candidate reduced support for 57% of Republicans but only 20% of Democrats. Republicans view radical Islam ties as a red flag for leadership fitness. Democrats’ lower wariness suggests softer stances on integration risks.
Mark Mitchell of RealClearPolitics noted 61% concern on January 16, 2026, contrasting it with 90% worry over political violence. His figure likely excludes undecideds from Rasmussen’s 77% total. Conservative common sense validates prioritizing radical Islam threats, given historical terrorism patterns.
Texas Leads Policy Response
Texas lawmakers invoked the poll immediately after its January 15-16 release. They scheduled hearings to ban Sharia, framing it as essential for state sovereignty. This move leverages voter data to enact protective legislation.
Broader implications loom for Trump’s second term. Immigration and security policies face pressure from 77% concern levels. Midterm campaigns may spotlight these issues, boosting GOP turnout. Rasmussen’s independent methodology ensures data reliability, guiding informed debate.
Muslim Americans confront integration challenges. Opposition to enclaves signals expectations of assimilation. Long-term, this poll could influence federal approaches to cultural threats, reinforcing American values of liberty and law.
Sources:
New Poll: Huge Majority Of Voters Concerned About Radical Islam
Most Voters Concerned About Radical Islam
Texas Firebrand Pushes Austin Showdown Over Sharia Law
Questions Islam January 7, 8 and 11, 2026
State Lawmakers Calls Hearings Banning
Mark Mitchell: Only 61% Of Voters Are Concerned About Radical Islam
