Ag Commish Sid Miller Fears the Muslims Are Going to Kill Him

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a defiant statement on March 2, 2026, claiming he had received multiple death threats in the preceding 24 hours. He linked these threats to his outspoken criticism of what he calls the "Islamification" of Texas and the United States, as well as his strong social media responses to a recent mass shooting in Austin, which he labeled a "horrific terror attack." The threats are under investigation by authorities, and Miller vowed he would not be intimidated or silenced. This development comes at a precarious time for Miller, who is facing a tough re-election battle in tomorrow's March 3, 2026, Republican Primary, where Governor Greg Abbott has endorsed his challenger, Nate Sheets.

The Austin Incident: A Potential Act of Terrorism

The shooting Miller referenced unfolded shortly before 2 a.m. on March 1, 2026, at Buford's Backyard Beer Garden on West 6th Street in downtown Austin, a bustling nightlife spot near the University of Texas. The perpetrator, 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne—a Senegalese-born naturalized U.S. citizen—fired from a vehicle, killing two people and injuring 14 others before being killed by police. The victims were patrons outside the bar, with injuries varying in severity.

The FBI, alongside the Austin Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety, is probing the event as a possible terrorist act. Evidence includes Diagne's clothing, which bore an Iranian flag and the phrase "Property of Allah," along with items in his vehicle hinting at extremist ties. The attack followed U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, fueling speculation of retaliation, though no confirmed connections to groups like Hamas or Iranian proxies exist. Officials believe Diagne acted alone, with reports noting his history of mental health issues, but the terrorism investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force continues. No organization has claimed responsibility.

Miller's social media posts condemned the attack, warning that Texas would "hunt down and eliminate" those behind future acts of terror. He has framed the incident as part of a broader threat from "radicalism," aligning with his long-standing rhetoric on Islam and national security.

Miller's History of Controversy and Advocacy

An eighth-generation Texas farmer and former rodeo champion, Sid Miller has held the Agriculture Commissioner post since 2015. Known for his conservative stance, Miller has frequently made headlines with provocative statements, including telling the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to "go straight to hell" in February 2026 after they criticized his views on "radical Islam."

Miller has pushed for designating Islamic organizations as terrorist groups. In late 2025, he urged President Donald Trump to label the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as such, claiming to be the first statewide Texas official to do so. In January 2026, the U.S. designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist entities for alleged support of Hamas. At the state level, Governor Abbott designated both groups as foreign terrorist and criminal organizations in November 2025, banning them from land ownership in Texas. Miller praised this, calling CAIR a "wolf in sheep’s clothing."

CAIR denies terrorist links, has condemned terrorism, and sued Abbott, calling the designation defamatory. Critics view these moves as Islamophobic, while supporters like Miller see them as security measures. A pending congressional bill seeks a federal review of CAIR.

This isn't Miller's first brush with threats. In February 2025, a Missouri man was arrested for emailing terroristic threats to him, unrelated to current events. Miller has also mentioned threats from Mexican cartels and was at the July 2024 Trump rally shooting. CAIR has not commented on the latest claims but previously demanded his resignation. Reactions to the Austin shooting include calls for gun control, with some accusing Miller of politicizing it without addressing mental health or firearms.

A Challenging Primary Looms

Miller's statement arrives on the eve of a contentious Republican Primary on March 3, 2026, where he seeks a fourth term. Despite his incumbency and past Trump endorsements, Miller is in a tough spot, trailing in fundraising and facing criticism from within his party. His opponent, Nate Sheets—a Navy veteran, Christian missionary, and founder of a major honey company—has raised over three times as much money since early 2025.

In a stunning move, Governor Abbott endorsed Sheets on January 21, 2026, citing the need for a commissioner focused on agriculture with "zero tolerance for criminality." Abbott referenced Miller's scandals, including a top staffer's guilty plea to bribery for hemp licenses, excessive bonuses, personal travel on taxpayer funds, and inflammatory rhetoric. Sheets, a political newcomer, has also garnered endorsements from outlets like the Houston Chronicle and Austin American-Statesman, which praised his integrity and ideas for rural Texas.

Miller dismissed the endorsement, calling it personal, and accused Sheets of desperation in a complaint alleging misuse of agency funds for campaign ads. Despite his proximity to Trump—who once called him his "man in Texas"—Trump has not endorsed in this race, leaving Miller vulnerable. Recent X posts highlight Miller's perceived weaknesses, with some users urging votes for Sheets due to Abbott's backing and Miller's record.