Governor Candidate Vows To Keep Sharia Law Out Of Swing State With Large Muslim Population

Republican Michigan State Sen. Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt took a stand against Sharia law Wednesday by introducing a resolution reaffirming his chamber’s “commitment to the supremacy of the U.S. and Michigan constitutions.”

The Michigan State Senate’s Democrat majority did not vote on the resolution, but referred it to another committee, according to a press release from Nesbitt’s office. Nesbitt, who is running for governor of the swing state, posted a videoon X explaining the events of the day, captioning the video, “[t]he State of Michigan will never recognize, endorse, or enforce Sharia law.”

“The state of Michigan has a compelling interest in shielding its citizens from the imposition of any legal code, ideology, or foreign influence that undermines American principles of constitutional supremacy and individual liberty,” the resolution states.

“In America, we have one Constitution and set of laws. It’s shameful that as we approach our Nation’s 250th birthday, Democrats in Michigan aren’t willing to affirm that basic fact. I can assure you that as Michigan’s next Governor, I will defend our Constitution and ensure we never recognize, endorse or enforce Sharia law in this state,” Nesbitt told the DCNF in a statement.

Michigan has a large population of Muslim residents. Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, is America’s largest Arab-majority city. Dearborn has a Muslim mayor, Abdullah H. Hammoud, and is home to the nation’s largest mosque.

The State Senate’s Democratic majority did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

“We are not going to surrender one single inch of our legal system to foreign ideologies, and we are not going to apologize for defending our sovereignty. We cannot and will not allow our country to be undermined by foreign legal codes that despise American liberty,” Nesbitt said in a Wednesday press release.

Regular questions and comments on the topic while Nesbitt traveled the state prompted him to introduce the legislation, according to a spokesperson from his office.

Nesbitt introduced the resolution to reaffirm the protection of Michigander’s fundamental rights against infringement, “including the application of foreign laws or religious codes in our public courts,” the resolution states.

“[W]e condemn any and all organizations that seek to subvert these constitutional protections or employ terrorism and violence against the people of the United States and the state of Michigan,” the resolution adds.

Nesbitt is competing in the crowded GOP primary for Michigan governor which will be held on Aug. 4. Among his primary opponents are Republican Michigan Rep. John James, former Republican Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and businessman Perry Johnson.