It's not known who is behind the signs.

The letter goes on to say: 

"Article VI in the Constitution, the “No Religious Test” clause, states that there should be no religious test to qualify for any office or public trust. This ensures that a person’s religious belief cannot be used as a condition for holding public office."

Razack, recently endorsed by the Orlando Sentinel, is one of five Republicans running in the Aug. 18 Republican Primary for Congressional District 11. The district includes Winter Garden, Oakland, Windermere, Dr. Phillips and the theme park areas as well as Sumter County and part of Lake County.

Razack, a neurosurgeon, attorney and law professor, was born in India and immigrated to the U.S. with his family at age 3. He is the founder and president of the Spine and Brain Neurosurgery Center in Orlando and teaches healthcare law at the Orlando campus of Florida A&M University College of Law. The letter describes him as “respectful, courteous” and “knowledgeable about the healthcare system."

The authors, who say in their missive that they have “diverse identities and political ideologies,” decided to write their letter last week when the Razack signs were brought up during a South Lake Democrats meeting.

“Someone said We should do something. Then someone said, We should say something. Then everyone started sharing ideas and contributing,” said a person with knowledge of the process who did not want to share their name because of the current volatile political climate. “It was a group effort. Very organic.”

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Dan Williams, who’s running in the Aug. 18 Democratic Primary for the Congressional 11th District, was one of the main drivers of the effort.  

“The first time I ever saw one of those signs, I was appalled,” he told VoxPopuli by text.

“Even though Dr. Razack and I disagree on policy, I strongly condemn the anti-Muslim attacks directed at him. I respect everyone’s voice, no matter if we agree or not, and there’s no room for hate in our elections.”

Signed by more than 25 people, including the other two Democrats running in the Congressional 11th District Primary — Royal Webster and James Pericola — the letter calls for “fellow citizens across the County (sic) and Central Florida to condemn the signage and the anti-Muslim sentiment behind it.”

“We don’t want to live in a place where that’s okay, especially given Lake County’s history of racism,” said the person with knowledge of the process.

“A person’s religion should never be a ‘thing’ when it comes to running for office,” Cyn Doyle, head of Lake County Indivisibles, told VoxPopuli Tuesday by text. “As our forefathers stated, religion should be separated from the state. I am so tired of the few who just spew hate whenever they have the opportunity. Fear and apathy are what will cause us to lose our freedoms.”  

One of Razack’s primary opponents, Tim Wilkins, has made religion a “thing” in his campaign. Running as a “Christian conservative,” Wilkins has made Razack’s Muslim faith a staple of his campaign commentary, attempting to link the physician with “radical Islam.” He even suggested to VoxPopu that Razack was trying to hide his religion, saying during one interview, “He’s Indian; that implied he was Hindu.”

“Hate has no place in our politics or in our country,” Webster said in a text message. “We should be able to have political differences and passionate disagreements without resorting to hatred, discrimination or personal attacks … We can disagree without hate. We can debate without discrimination. And we can defend the Constitution while doing both.”

“I was not aware of the letter, but have seen some of the signs,” Pericola said by text. “As I shared with Dr. Razack at the Spectrum debate, it’s wrong, outrageous and has absolutely no place in this race or in our politics. I was deeply offended by it and told him so. I would be happy to sign the letter.”

A mayoral candidate for Minneola, two Democratic candidates for the Congressional 6th District and a Democratic candidate for Florida’s House District 26 also signed the letter.

VoxPopuli was unable to reach Razack for comment.

Three people signed the letter … then got skittish about being so public with their support and removed their names, according to the person with knowledge of the process.

“People are nervous,” the person said, nodding to the rise in political violence — and why their own family was concerned about their involvement with the letter. Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative reported that targeted political violence increased more than 30 percent between 2024 and 2025. Indeed, Razack has received death threats during his campaign. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating that matter.

“We want Dr. Razack to be supported and we want our community to be safe,” they said.

VoxPopuli reached out to several Republican candidates running in the Congressional 11th District Primary — including former state legislator and property appraiser Carey Baker; former farmer and whistleblower Ivette Palomo; and businessman Joe Strada — to ask what they thought about the letter and if they would consider signing it to support a fellow Republican.

Palomo was the only one to answer, responding by email to affirm that there is no religious test for candidacy but that she would not sign the letter. She declined to say why.