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In an effort to highlight religious diversity, Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democratic candidate for Iowa’s Third Congressional District and a Lutheran minister, has addressed recent criticism over her 2021 recitation of a Muslim prayer in the Iowa Senate. In a reflective opinion piece, she shared how the events of September 11 brought her awareness to the pervasive issue of “anti-Muslim bigotry” and its damaging effects.
During her campaign against Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, Trone Garriott recalled wearing two face masks while delivering a prayer composed by a Muslim constituent in the Senate chamber. Her action at the time sparked a debate, which she defended by pointing out the lack of religious diversity in legislative prayers. “Every single prayer has been a Christian prayer at the Senate,” she stated, emphasizing the need for representation reflective of the religiously diverse Des Moines metro area.
Despite Iowa and Des Moines each having a Muslim population of less than one percent, as found in a 2024 study, Trone Garriott felt it was important to acknowledge all faiths within the community. In response to the backlash, she penned an op-ed titled “Why I shared a Muslim prayer in the Iowa Senate,” where she argued that Christian voices were “overwhelmingly represented” in the chamber, and her intention was to promote inclusivity.
Trone Garriott recounted receiving critical messages after the prayer, with remarks referencing “Sharia law,” labeling Islam as a “violent religion,” and asserting that the United States is a “Judeo-Christian country” where Muslim prayers should be excluded. Her reflection points to the ongoing dialogue about religious representation and tolerance within American politics and society.
Following the backlash, Trone Garriott published an op-ed titled “Why I shared a Muslim prayer in the Iowa Senate.” In the piece, she wrote that Christian voices had been “overwhelmingly represented” in the chamber and argued that her prayer was intended to reflect religious diversity.
Trone Garriott wrote that after the prayer, she received messages referencing “Sharia law,” Islam as a “violent religion,” and claims that the United States is a “Judeo-Christian country” where Muslim prayers were unwelcome.
She also wrote that her experience beginning a master of theological studies degree at Harvard University immediately after the September 11 attacks shaped her views.
“The day before I began my master of theological studies degree at Harvard University was Sept. 11, 2001,” Trone Garriott wrote. “On that religiously diverse campus, I was more aware of the rising anti-Muslim bigotry and its harm.”
The op-ed made no mention of the Americans killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Trone Garriott further argued that her decision to read the prayer was part of an effort to elevate “minority” voices.
“Because of all this, I actively seek to bring in the voices of those in the minority of power or number,” she wrote. “We can’t work together for the good of Iowa when some are left out, when bigotry renders some voiceless, when rhetoric that inspires violence is allowed to go unchallenged.”
She concluded by writing that “No aspect of anything that happens here in this chamber should be dominated by one voice” and that if prayer is permitted in the state capitol, “That opportunity needs to be open to all.”
Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft told – News, “Sarah Trone Garriott should be ashamed for wagging her finger at America for not being woke enough about 9/11 and completely ignoring the more than 2,000 patriots tragically killed that day. There is truly no floor to how low Trone Garriott will stoop to pander to coastal elite Democrat Party bosses by insulting Iowa values.”
This week, the National Republican Congressional Committee released a video showing Trone Garriott running into a building after being asked, “Is God real?”
According to the NRCC, the video likely prompted Trone Garriott to block the organization’s account from her campaign account.
In a 2023 speech at a Methodist church, Sarah Trone Garriott said it was “uncomfortable” to see “faith and political power” collide, including displays that combined the American flag and the Christian cross and religious leaders backing political candidates. She also said that “religion and political violence” appearing more frequently in public life felt “very threatening.”
Trone Garriott separately complained that Iowa’s leaders were “mostly white, mostly Christian, and mostly older men.” She has also referred to private Christian schools as “segregation academies” that create “white enclaves.”
In the same 2023 remarks, Trone Garriott said what she called “Christian nationalism” was tied to “white patriarchy” and said evangelist Billy Graham “really modeled this” through what she described as an image of “white, Christian masculinity.”
Trone Garriott also appeared Tuesday alongside Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)), one of the “Seditious Six” Democrats who President Donald Trump said should be jailed after they urged military members to resist “illegal orders,” during a health care town hall in Des Moines.
Earlier Tuesday, potential 2028 presidential contender Elissa Slotkin held a separate focus group lunch in Indianola with five Trump voters, one of whom said he was paid $200 plus lunch to attend and did not learn until later that Slotkin was leading the discussion.
