Niqab-Wearing Muslim Woman Running for North Carolina Senate as a ‘Republican’ Repeatedly Tells Reporter ‘I Am Down for ISIS’
A recent interview with Lakeshia Mashonda Ruddi Alston, the only Republican candidate running for North Carolina’s State Senate District 22, has raised fresh questions about her candidacy and political alignment.
Alston, a niqab-wearing Muslim woman with no prior experience in public office, described herself as an educator, entrepreneur, and community advocate. Despite claiming to represent the future of the Republican Party, she currently has no active campaign website, no clearly defined policy platform, and no connected social media presence.
During an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation, Alston attempted to explain her conservative principles and Republican credentials, but many of her answers were confusing, contradictory, or factually incorrect.
When asked which conservative values she supports, Alston repeatedly stated, “I am down for ISIS” and “I stand for ISIS,” apparently while attempting to reference Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She made these remarks multiple times throughout the interview and did not clarify her meaning when contacted afterward.
“I am down for ISIS. The police tell you that you gotta freeze. You have to stop. I can’t go on to another country without a passport,” Alston said. She went on to describe emotional interactions involving students and “ISIS,” adding that she empathized with them and supported “ISIS,” further adding to the confusion.
Alston insisted she is a Republican, telling the outlet, “I’ve matured in my own revelation of what the Republican Party represents, and it looks like me.” Responding to criticism of her party affiliation, she asked, “Are we going back to segregation time?” before stating that she does not fully understand the aims and values of the Republican Party.
At another point in the interview, Alston recounted an anecdote about a “Chinese little boy” she knew at Jordan High School whose fingernails were supposedly affected by the Hiroshima bombing—despite Hiroshima being located in Japan.
Explaining her decision to wear a niqab, Alston said she wanted to prevent the race from becoming a “beauty contest” and instead focus on qualifications. “I didn’t want it to go in for the looks. I wanted it to be about who is the most qualified,” she said. She also incorrectly quoted foundational American text while making her point.
In additional remarks, Alston rejected stereotypes about Republicans, saying the party is “cultured” and not composed of “redneck honkies who don’t have any education or intellect.”
🚨#BREAKING: It has been revealed that Lakeshia M. Alston, the woman running for election as a REPUBLICAN in North Carolina’s Senate District 22 in a full hijab…
…is actually life-long Democrat according to her public voter records
She has been voting Democrat since 2008. pic.twitter.com/zgmjqYeA61
— Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) December 28, 2025
On policy, Alston described herself as “pro-choice” on firearms, explaining that while Muslims do not typically carry guns, she supports gun rights for security purposes. She did not provide a clear stance on abortion. Instead, she made broad claims about trust and character, stating that if voters trust her in personal and professional roles, they should trust her to create effective policy.
Alston officially filed her candidacy last month with the Durham County Board of Elections, becoming the sole Republican in the race for the heavily Democratic District 22. The seat is currently held by Democrat Sophia Chitlik, who faces a primary challenge from former Durham City Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman. In the 2024 election, Democrat Kamala Harris received 78 percent of the vote in the district.
Unless another Republican enters the race, Alston is expected to become the GOP nominee by default. However, public voter records from the North Carolina State Board of Elections show that she has consistently voted in Democratic primaries and general elections since at least 2008, including in 2024.
North Carolina law requires candidates to be registered with their party for at least 90 days prior to filing, meaning Alston would have had to switch her affiliation by September 18—after casting her 2024 ballot as a Democrat.
This sudden change in party affiliation has fueled accusations of primary sabotage, with conservatives on social media platforms such as X calling on the North Carolina Republican Party to investigate and urging other Republicans to enter the race.
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