- State Representative Jon Rosenthal, the Democrat nominee for Railroad Commissioner, has attacked Christian Conservatives as the “Christian Taliban” and mocked Christian doctrine, including communion and the virgin birth
- Despite mocking Christians, Rosenthal has embraced the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by Governor Abbott
- Rosenthal has also been supported by far-left organizations such as Our Revolution
A state lawmaker who is the Democratic Party’s nominee for Railroad Commissioner has a long history of mocking Christians, while also forging a close relationship with a radical Muslim organization that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
State Representative Jon Rosenthal, who has represented a portion of Harris County in the Texas House of Representatives since 2019, was unopposed in the Democratic Primary for Railroad Commissioner.
As a candidate for the Texas House in 2018, Rosenthal appeared on a podcast called “The Trans Advocate”, where he made several comments mocking Christians.
In a discussion about his religious beliefs, Rosenthal – who described himself as a “non-religious agonistic” and a “non-practicing agnostic” – called Christian conservatives, “the Christian Taliban.”
Rosenthal then mocked the Christian sacrament of communion.
“I don’t think I should be, let’s say, required to take communion walking into the Texas Legislature. And it’s not that I have anything against eating crackers, but I think those crackers are generally not very tasty,” quipped Rosenthal.
Later in the interview, Rosenthal also mocked the virgin birth. In discussing abstinence-only sex education policies, Rosenthal remarked, “These same religious people will tell you there’s an exception to that rule, right? You can be abstinent and still get pregnant.”
Rosenthal also used vulgar language to express his disdain for conservative legislation and Republican lawmakers.
“The Texas Legislature is one of the most egregious legislatures in the country. These people are seriously f**ked up, and we have got to do something to make a change about that,” said Rosenthal.
The Trans Advocate podcast is produced by the Transgender Foundation of America, an organization that Rosenthal has supported. In 2019, Rosenthal was a featured speaker at the Houston Transgender Unity Banquet.
Despite mocking Christians, Rosenthal has not shown hostility to all religious faiths. As a candidate and later as a state legislator, Rosenthal has shown strong support for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) – a radical Muslim organization that was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by Governor Abbott last year.
In a December 9, 2018, Facebook post, Rosenthal discussed attending a banquet hosted by CAIR’s Houston chapter that featured Linda Sarsour and Hassan Shibly as featured speakers.
“Last event of the evening, a great organization with some very powerful speakers,” wrote Rosenthal.
Sarsour is a prominent pro-Palestinian activist with a history of making antisemitic comments. Shibly, who was then an official with CAIR’s Florida chapter, was later forced to step down from his position with CAIR after allegations of domestic abuse and sexual harassment emerged against him.
Shibly has remained a prominent voice within the Muslim community as Founder and Lead Attorney of Muslim Legal, where he assists clients with implementing sharia law.
In an October 31, 2023 Facebook post, Shibly wrote, “One should not sleep three nights without having a proper estate plan to ensure their assets are protected in their life time and distributed according to sharia principles in an time and cost efficient manner at death. As part of that estate plan we should also allocate part of our wealth to support community organizations speaking truth to power, advocating for human rights, and fighting islamophobia. Alhamdulilah – at Muslim Legal we have just allocated another full time staff member to help the community achieve that.”
Shibly has also defended Hamas in social media posts.
“Hamas exists as a natural human reaction to occupation, apartheid, and genocide. It exists to resist the violence Israel unleashes on Palestinians,” wrote Shibly in a tweet last year.
Since his election to the Texas Legislature, Rosenthal has met with CAIR officials at the organization’s office and attended other events hosted by CAIR.
Rosenthal also took to CAIR’s defense after Governor Abbott designated it as a foreign terrorist organization last year.
“Attacks on our Muslim neighbors and community organizations are part of a racist and Islamophobic trend that have no place in our state, or our country. Religious freedom matters and I stand with the CAIR as they face the racist accusations from Governor Abbott,” said Rosenthal.
Rosenthal has established himself as one of the most liberal members of the Texas House during his tenure. Among the groups that have supported Rosenthal during his political career is Our Revolution, a socialist advocacy organization with ties to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
In 2020, Rosenthal – standing alongside signs depicting Sanders with a raised fist and advocating for “Green New Deal” energy policies – was a featured speaker at a rally hosted by Our Revolution.
Incumbent Republican Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright faces challenger Bo French in the Republican runoff next month for the right to take on Rosenthal in the November General Election.
