WASHINGTON: Muslim Americans made significant gains in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, winning or leading in at least 36 contests for federal, state and local offices, while a nationwide exit survey suggests that the wars in Gaza and Iran, economic pressures and rising Islamophobia played major roles in motivating Muslim voters.
The results marked an important milestone in the growing political participation of Muslim Americans, with candidates securing victories in congressional, state legislative,judicial and county elections across the country.
Among the most historic victories was that of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s US Senate race. He defeated Republican former congressman Mike Rogers, becoming the first Muslim ever elected to the US Senate.
In New Jersey, Adam Hamawy won the 12th Congressional District, becoming the first Muslim elected to Congress from the state. Darializa Avila Chevalier also won New York’s 13th Congressional District.
Several Muslim members of the House of Representatives retained their seats, including Ilhan Omar ofMinnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, André Carson of Indiana and Lateefah Simon of California.
Aisha Wahab, who entered Congress following a special election in August, was also reported among the leading candidates in California’s 14th District, with the final outcome subject to confirmation. The gains extended well beyond Congress.
In Georgia, Ruwa Romman won the State Senate District 7 race, becoming the first Palestinian American elected to the state Senate. Sheikh Rahman retained his seat, while Farooq Mughal reclaimed his former seat in the State House of Representatives.Illinois State Senator Nabeela Syed defeated Republican-backed opposition to flip a previously Republican-held seat in District 26.
Abdelnasser Rashid also retained his seat in the state legislature.
In Michigan, Abbas Alawieh was among the leading candidates in the State Senate District 2 race. His victory would make him the first Arab American and Muslim elected to the Michigan Senate. Other victories included Iman Jodeh in Colorado, Maryam Khan and Saud Anwar in Connecticut, Madinah Wilson-Anton in Delaware, and Omar Fateh and Zaynab Mohamed in Minnesota.
Minnesota representatives MohamudNoor and Samakab Hussein also retained their legislative seats. In New York, Palestinian American candidate Aber Kawas won the State Senate District 12 contest, while incumbent Robert Jackson retained his seat. Muslim candidates also won legislative races in Ohio, Oregon, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. Among them were Munira Abdullahi and Ismail Mohamed in Ohio, Kayse Jama in Oregon, Mujtaba Mohammed in North Carolina, Tarik Khan and Mariam Sabih in Pennsylvania, and Texas lawmakers Salman Bhojani and Suleman Lalani, who secured re-election.
At the county level, Letticia Plum-mer won the Harris County Judge election in Texas, becoming the first Black person and the first Muslim to lead the state’s largest county. Judge Rabia Collier also secured re-election to the 113th Civil District Court.
Several other contests, including legislative and judicial races in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Washington, remained subject to further counting and official confirmation.
The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR) and its advocacy affiliate, CAIR Action, said they had tracked more than 160 Muslim American candidates seeking federal, state and local offices during the election cycle.