“Last night’s historic string of Minnesotan Muslims’ primary victories sets a new benchmark for American Muslims aspiring to give back to their communities and run for public office,” said Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “American Muslims are not only defining their own narratives in a hostile political landscape, they are creating new spaces for what representation and diversity in public service looks like.”

“We are proud of the strong voter turnout of all Minnesotans in last night’s primary, especially Minnesota Muslim voters, in making democracy work for everyone,” said CAIR Minnesota’s Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. “Last night’s historic primary exemplified the trust Minnesotan voters place in Muslim candidates running for office.” 

Last week, Palestinian Arab-American Muslim Rashida Tlaib won the primary election in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. Tlaib won the primary election defeating five other candidates. Running unopposed, her win in the November general election is ensured. She will be the first American Muslim woman elected to Congress.

In Massachusetts, African American Muslim Tahirah Amatul-Wadud will square off against incumbent Representative Richard E. Neal in the state’s Democratic Primary for Massachusetts’s 1st Congressional District. No Republican candidate is contesting for the office. The primary will take place September 4.

In April, the Washington Post reported that More than 90 American Muslims, nearly all of them Democrats, are running for public office across the country this year.