Muslim candidates win big in US midterms, including Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib

WASHINGTON: Muslim candidates have made notable gains in the midterm elections held in the United States on 3 November. The biggest win came in Michigan, where Democrat Dr Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the Senate. According to CBS News and AP, he is the first Muslim to reach the US Senate.

Before the elections, a survey by Muslim Network TV found that at least 51 Muslim candidates were contesting various offices across the country.

Ilhan Omar

According to early unofficial results reported in the US media, Somali-born Ilhan Omar has won once again from Minnesota’s fifth congressional district. These results show she received 62.77 per cent of the votes, while her Republican rival John Nagel received 28.31 per cent.

Rashida Tlaib

Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has also been re-elected from Michigan, according to early unofficial results. She is among the prominent voices openly critical of Israel’s policies.

Dr Adam Hamawy

Egyptian-American surgeon Dr Adam Hamawy is reported to have won New Jersey’s 12th congressional district. He is a former surgeon in the US military and has volunteered to provide medical services in Gaza. He won the Democratic primary in June. If he wins, he will be the first Muslim to reach Congress from New Jersey.

Remaining results awaited

Results from the constituency of Muslim Congressman André Carson in Indiana have not yet come in. Reports are also coming in of wins by several other Muslim candidates at state and local level.

These results are early and unofficial. The states concerned will announce official results once the counting of votes is complete.

Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons / WMrapids (CC0)