Dr. Suleman Lalani Launches Campaign for Third Term with Well-Attended Fort Bend Event
By A. Rehman Patel
Richmond, Texas: Texas State Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani of House District 76 formally launched his campaign for a third term with a fundraising and re-election campaign kickoff event held Saturday, September 12, at the Forum Ballroom at Safari Texas Ranch.
The event drew a large gathering of community members, elected officials, political and civic leaders, as well as candidates seeking various public offices.
The program was emceed by Leena Shah, whose confident and polished presentation brought continuity and structure to the evening. With thoughtful word choice, timely introductions and a dignified presence, she smoothly guided the program from one speaker to the next while maintaining the appropriate tone and decorum throughout the event.
State Representative Gene Wu spoke about Texas’ growing racial and cultural diversity and emphasized the importance of minority communities participating in the electoral process and exercising their right to vote.
Sofia Sheikh, president of Texas Democratic Women, spoke in support of Dr. Lalani and encouraged attendees to participate actively in the electoral process.
Faheem Akhond discussed Dr. Lalani’s legislative work and his position regarding a ceasefire in Gaza. He referred to Lalani’s previous involvement with other Texas Democratic lawmakers in efforts calling on the Biden administration to reconsider unconditional U.S. support for Israel and to move toward a ceasefire.
Fort Bend County Judge Dexter McCoy, speaking about his experience working with Lalani, said leadership is not simply about speaking, but about responding in practical ways to the needs of people and communities.
State Representative Penny Shaw described Lalani as an important voice for his community in the Texas House, while State Representative Mary Ann Perez said Lalani listens to people, shows up when needed and brings the concerns of his community to the Legislature.
A number of Fort Bend County elected officials, candidates and community figures also attended the event, including Judge Juli Mathew and April Jones.
“Tonight Is About Gratitude. Tonight Is About Faith.”
In his keynote remarks, Dr. Lalani thanked supporters and attendees, saying:
“Tonight is about gratitude. Tonight is about faith.”
He described representing House District 76 as an honor and discussed his legislative work during his time in office.
According to the official Texas House biography, Lalani is currently serving his second term representing House District 76, which includes Sugar Land, Stafford, Richmond and Meadows Place. He was first elected in 2022.
Lalani said that when the Muslim community confronted issues such as Islamophobia, he chose to speak rather than remain silent. He also discussed Gaza, arguing that human suffering should not be viewed as an issue belonging to any single religion or community.
He further stated that he had decided not to accept campaign contributions from AIPAC.
Lalani urged those in attendance, particularly young people and members of diverse communities, to remain engaged in the political and civic process and to help educate and engage others. He argued that problems can become more difficult when people remain silent.
He also acknowledged that public service can involve personal sacrifices, while saying that an elected representative’s fundamental responsibility is to listen to constituents and work toward addressing their concerns.
According to Lalani’s official Texas House biography, during the 89th legislative session his name was attached to more than 270 bills as author, co-author, joint author, sponsor or co-sponsor, with 83 becoming law. His legislative work has included healthcare and education, protections involving online impersonation and deepfake images, fentanyl education and dementia research. He serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Land & Resource Management, is a member of the Higher Education Committee and was appointed to the Select Committee on Health Care Affordability.
The ballroom remained well attended throughout the program, with participants representing a range of communities. The evening’s speeches focused largely on representation, civic and political participation, voting, legislative work and public service.
