Many American Muslim candidates on Tuesday won mayoral, legislative and city council elections in several cities in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The elections took place in more than 30 states across the United States.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organisation, congratulated the American Muslims on their hard-fought and groundbreaking electoral victories.
Two Muslim Americans were elected to lead cities in Michigan.
Abdullah Hammoud became Dearborn’s first Muslim mayor. The 31-year-old state representative defeated former state representative Gary Woronchak garnering nearly 55% of votes.
Dearborn is a city known for its large Arab and Muslim population.
Arab-American, Amer Ghalib made history after beating long-time Hamtramck Mayor, Karen Majewski. Ghalib garnered 68% of the votes while Majewski got 31%.
Hamtramck is the only city in America with a Muslim majority population.
Tania Fernandes Anderson, first Cape Verdean American immigrant and American Muslim, was elected to the Boston City Council, Massachusetts.
Etel Haxhiaj, first Albanian American refugee and American Muslim, was elected to the Worcester City Council, Massachusetts.
Azrin Awal, first Bangladeshi American immigrant and American, Muslim was elected to the Duluth City Council, Minnesota.
Shama Haider, first Pakistani American and American Muslim, was elected to the New Jersey State legislature
Umar Muhammad, first Pakistani American and American Muslim, was elected to the Galloway Township Council, New Jersey
Shahana Hanif, first Bangladeshi American and American Muslim women, was elected to the New York City Council, New York.
Amira Muflahi, first Yemeni American and American Muslim woman to be elected to the Lackawanna City Council, New York.
Dr. Mariam Mahmud, first Pakistani American and American Muslim, was elected to the Central Bucks School Board, Region 5, Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Note: Projected to win.)
Taiba Sultana, first Pakistani American immigrant and American Muslim, was elected to the Easton City Council, Pennsylvania.
“This is what America looks like, this is diversity in public service, and exemplifies the trust Americans are placing in Muslim candidates running for office,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director, Robert McCaw.
A report released in March by CAIR, Jetpac and MPower Change found that 181 Muslim candidates were on 2020 ballots across 28 states and Washington D.C., with 80 elected to office.
