Record Number of Muslim Candidates Win Office Across the United States
11-26-2025
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Washington, D.C. — November 6, 2025
This year’s off-year elections saw a historic rise in Muslim political representation across the United States, with at least 38 Muslim candidates winning races nationwide and 76 Muslim candidates appearing on ballots according to preliminary nationwide tracking. Additional candidates may be confirmed as local election offices finalize results.
Several closely watched contests remain undecided. In Hamtramck, Michigan, a mayoral race between two Muslim candidates is still too close to call, guaranteeing the city will elect a Muslim mayor. Three more races across the country await recounts or run-offs.
The 2025 election cycle delivered several major firsts. In New York City, Zohran K. Mamdani was elected as the city’s first Muslim mayor. In Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi won the lieutenant governor’s race, becoming the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in U.S. history, following Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s precedent as the first Muslim man to win statewide office.
Observers say these victories reflect both growing civic engagement among Muslim Americans and a voter pushback against Islamophobic rhetoric that targeted multiple candidates this cycle. Many candidates reported facing misinformation campaigns, online harassment, and anti-Muslim attacks — yet still prevailed in competitive races.
Political analysts expect that this trend will shape the landscape heading into the 2026 midterms, with Muslim candidates gaining visibility in school boards, city councils, state legislatures, and mayoral offices.
Notable Muslim Election Victories (Confirmed as of Nov. 6, 2025)
Statewide & Legislative Offices
Ghazala Hashmi – Lieutenant Governor, Virginia
Sam Rasoul – Virginia House of Delegates (District 38)
Atoosa R. Reaser – Virginia House of Delegates (District 27)
Al Abdelaziz – New Jersey General Assembly (District 35)
Mayors
5. Zohran K. Mamdani – Mayor, New York City (NY)
6. Abdullah Hammoud – Mayor, Dearborn (MI)
7. Mo Baydoun – Mayor, Dearborn Heights (MI)
8. Faizul Kabir – Mayor, College Park (MD)
9. Ted Green – Mayor, East Orange (NJ)
City & Town Councils / Commissioners
10. Hassan Ahmad – Dearborn Heights, MI
11. Kamal Alsawafy – Dearborn, MI
12. Mustapha Hammoud – Dearborn, MI
13. Nayeem L. Choudhury – Hamtramck, MI
14. Abu A. Musa – Hamtramck, MI
15. Yousuf Saed – Hamtramck, MI
16. Aisha Chughtai – Minneapolis, MN (Ward 10)
17. Jamal Osman – Minneapolis, MN (Ward 6)
18. Aurin Chowdhury – Minneapolis, MN (Ward 12)
19. Ibrahim Omar – Paterson, NJ (Ward 6)
20. Mohamed Egal – SeaTac, WA
21. Rami Al-Kabra – Bothell, WA
22. Naren Briar – Bellevue, WA
23. Nadia Rasul – Hilliard, OH
24. Mohamed Omar – Grove City, OH
25. Haseeb Fatmi – Wake Forest, NC
26. Hamdi Mohamed – Port of Seattle Commission, WA
27. Nadeem Qayyum – Northampton County, PA
28. Siddiq Kamara – Sheriff, Delaware County, PA
Judicial and County Offices
29. Ajmeri Hoque – Franklin County Municipal Court Judge, OH
30. Soma S. Syed – Justice, NY Supreme Court (11th District)
Education & School Boards
31. Dr. Mohammad Alhawawsha – North Olmsted Board of Education, OH
32. Alisha Khan – South Brunswick Board of Education, NJ
33. Anisa Liban – Westerville School Board, OH
34. Kareem Moffett – Cincinnati Public Schools Board, OH
35. Habeebah Haqq – Piscataway Board of Education, NJ
36. Yusef Salaam – New York City Council (District 9)
37. Shahana Hanif – New York City Council (District 39)
Races Pending Recounts or Runoffs
• Akbar Ali – Georgia House (District 106) – Runoff Dec. 2
• Adam Alharbi vs. Muhith Mahmood – Hamtramck Mayor, MI
• Bedria Abdullahi – SeaTac City Council, WA (Recount)
• Tanmay Shah – Cleveland City Council, OH (Recount)
A Growing Chapter in U.S. Political Representation
While the results remain preliminary, the 2025 election cycle underscores a continuing trend: American Muslims are increasingly visible in public life, winning seats at every level of government despite facing organized opposition and rising Islamophobia in many regions.
A full national directory of Muslim elected officials for 2025–2026 is expected early next year once certification is complete.
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