Dallas County Commissioner Andy Sommerman (D-District 2) is facing criticism over past remarks in which he touted his role in establishing polling locations at three mosques and said new voters at the sites overwhelmingly backed Democrats and helped elect a local Democratic judge.
The original Facebook post carrying the video is no longer publicly available. The Dallas Express reviewed a copy supplied by Barry Wernick, the Republican nominee challenging Sommerman in District 2, through a campaign research site. An August 28 X post preserves the recording. The archived material identifies the original as a 2025 post by Syed Bilal Gillani.
“Another place that I have opened up is three mosques, I want you to think about that for a moment, three mosques have been opened up since I have been there,” Sommerman said.
“What difference does that make?” he continued.
Sommerman said 1,689 people had voted at mosques for the first time during the previous election and called the participation a “huge turnaround.” He linked those voters to Democratic electoral gains.
“Almost every one of these new voters voted democrat, we know that,” Sommerman said.
“That means that those mosques and those new voters were the difference in making sure that Tina Clinton was elected,” he added.
The Dallas Express could not independently verify Sommerman’s claims about the 1,689 voters, their voting preferences or their effect on Clinton’s election.
What the records show
Official Dallas County location reports show voters cast 12,040 ballots at the three vote centers during early voting and on Election Day in November 2024. In the Fifth Court of Appeals Place 9 race, Clinton received 7,322 votes at the three centers, while Republican Matthew Kolodoski received 3,642.
Clinton won the race districtwide by 1,596 votes, the final results show. The aggregate location totals establish that Clinton won more votes at those centers, but they do not identify first-time voters, reveal any individual ballot or establish that placing vote centers at mosques caused her victory.
Dallas County operates countywide vote centers, meaning any registered county voter may use any center. Ballots cast at a mosque therefore do not establish a voter’s religious affiliation, according to state guidance.
Three mosque polling locations
The three locations Sommerman took credit for helping establish are the Islamic Association of North Texas in Richardson, Makkah Masjid IDEA in Garland and Madinah Masjid of Carrollton. At least two publicly promoted their status as polling locations.
The IANT post promoted voting in the City of Richardson’s 2023 election.
“Did you know that tomorrow is election day for the City of Richardson. Best of all – IANT IS A POLLING CENTER, from 7AM to 7PM!” the Islamic Association of North Texas stated.
IANT also directed followers to resources for checking their voter registration and viewing their ballots.
A Madinah post promoted the mosque’s designation as a Dallas County polling location ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
“The Management of Madinah Masjid of Carrollton is pleased to announce to be a part of the upcoming elections for this year and coming years as a registered Polling Station by Dallas County for those who live in Dallas County,” a Facebook post by Samina Iftekhar Ahmed stated on behalf of the mosque’s management.
The post said the Dallas County Elections Department prepared the location for early voting from October 21 through November 1, 2024, followed by Election Day on November 5.
“Please cast your vote as your vote is your voice & power,” the post stated.
“Please choose the Madinah Masjid of Carrollton as a Polling Station near your place,” the post continued. “Please share this information with others.”
The posts promoted voter participation and the mosques’ availability as polling locations. Based on the language reviewed by The Dallas Express, neither post endorsed a candidate or political party.
Sommerman connects mosque voting to Democratic victory
Wernick criticized Sommerman’s statements in an August 26 campaign release, accusing the commissioner of supporting the polling locations for partisan political benefit.
“Polling locations should be chosen for convenience, accessibility, and impartiality — not turned into political weapons,” Wernick said.
“This is not about access. This is about manufacturing a reliable bloc of votes for himself and his party,” Wernick added. “It’s a disgraceful abuse of official power.”
Wernick’s statements represent his characterization of Sommerman’s actions. Sommerman’s remarks show that he believed the mosque polling locations benefited Democratic candidates, but the remarks alone do not establish that county officials originally selected the sites for partisan purposes.
IANT hosted ‘From Marxism to Islam’ event
Wernick’s campaign also cited a separate May 2, 2025, event at IANT titled “From Marxism to Islam: The Revolutionary Road to Allah.” Speakers discussed moving from Marxist political movements to Islam, Amy Mek, an investigative journalist with RAIR Foundation, reported. The report and Wernick’s release identified the Islamic Circle of North America Dallas as the event’s organizer.
Wernick used the event to criticize Sommerman’s support for establishing IANT as a polling location.
“Sommerman used his office to turn these institutions into vote centers for political gain, then stayed silent when one of them platformed people who openly reject American and Texas values,” Wernick said.
The religious event was separate from election administration at IANT. Its existence does not establish that voting conducted at the mosque was partisan.
Republican challenger calls for changes
Wernick called on the Dallas County Elections Department to discontinue using the three mosque locations as vote centers.
“Our elections must be fair and impartial. Sommerman’s actions are the opposite,” Wernick said. “Voters deserve a watchdog who will protect the integrity of our elections — not exploit them.”
The Texas Election Code directs counties to use a public building as a polling place when practicable and permits a private building when a suitable public building is unavailable. The law does not categorically prohibit religious facilities from serving as polling places.
A 2024 county newsletter said elections staff contacted more than 100 facilities while seeking additional vote centers and listed Madinah Masjid among six new locations. The newsletter did not explain the selection of IANT or Makkah Masjid.
Wernick is seeking to unseat Sommerman in the November 3 election.
The Dallas Express contacted Sommerman and the Dallas County Elections Department for comment about Sommerman’s statements, the process used to approve the polling locations and his claims about the number and voting preferences of new voters at the sites. Neither responded before publication.
Provided by Dallas Express
