TLDR:
- 38 of 76 Muslim candidates won office in 2025, including NYC’s first Muslim mayor-elect and the first female Muslim to win statewide office
- Trump’s outreach in Michigan’s Muslim-majority cities helped narrow the political gap: 53% of Muslims now identify as Democrat, 42% as Republican
- Biden’s Israel support and the Gaza war fueled “Uncommitted” movements and energized candidates who called Israel’s actions “genocide”
- Conservative backlash intensifies with Florida’s AG warning about Shariah law in schools and Congress introducing the “No Shariah Act”
The 2025 election delivered historic wins for Muslim politicians even as it exposed deep tensions over their rising influence.
Zohran Mamdani became New York City’s first Muslim mayor-elect after denouncing Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide and pledging to uphold the International Criminal Court’s warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi became the first female Muslim to win statewide office as lieutenant governor.
Of 76 Muslim candidates on the ballot, 38 won, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
President Trump’s outreach in Michigan helped narrow the political divide among Muslim voters. Pew Research shows 53% identify as Democrat and 42% as Republican — a split driven by conflicting priorities on immigration versus family values.
Mr. Biden’s unwavering support for Israel alienated many Muslim voters, fueling “Uncommitted” movements demanding an end to the Gaza war.
But the victories sparked conservative alarm. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier warned school vouchers were promoting Shariah law. Republican lawmakers introduced the “No Shariah Act” to bar its practice nationwide.
Ms. Hashmi responded: “While I’m deeply honored to be the first, I know with certainty that I will not be the last.”
Read more:
• How a wave of Muslim politicians came to power across the United States
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
