Muslim American Voters Seek Greater Voice in Midterms
Muslim American voters are seeking a greater political voice in the United States midterm elections on November 3, with candidates contesting seats at national, state and local level. The campaign has unfolded against a sharp debate over American policy in the Middle East, and over the cost of living at home.
Dawn reported that Muslim and Arab Americans are contesting congressional, state legislative and local offices across the country. The wars in Gaza and Iran have intensified questions about US military support for Israel, American action abroad and overseas military spending. Those questions could influence voters well beyond those communities.
The stakes are high for the country as a whole. The elections will decide control of the House of Representatives and influence the balance of power in the Senate. That outcome will shape congressional oversight, military funding and the room the administration has to act. Polling has already shown a difficult backdrop for the administration, with a Reuters/Ipsos survey in October putting the president’s approval at a record low, as reported in Trump Approval Falls to Record Low of 31 Per Cent.
Muslim American voters: 51 candidates in 23 states
Muslim Network TV has identified 51 Muslim Americans contesting elections in about 23 states. The list includes one Senate candidate and 10 congressional candidates. Some media reports put the total higher, at more than 100.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the country, said on October 30 that the midterms presented the community with both unprecedented stakes and unprecedented capacity. It estimated that eight million Muslims live in the United States, with more than 2.5 million registered voters concentrated in 12 states that could decide control of Congress.
CAIR announced a final get-out-the-vote campaign on October 29. The campaign uses advertisements and text messages to mobilise more than one million Muslim American voters.
A CAIR survey of 861 Muslim respondents, released on October 28, found that 81 per cent intended to vote. Cost of living led concerns for 63 per cent, while 89 per cent rated a candidate’s Gaza position very or extremely important.
Michigan Senate race in focus
One of the most closely watched contests is the Senate race in Michigan. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is seeking to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
Late-October polling suggests El-Sayed has support beyond Muslim and Arab American voters. An aggregation of statewide surveys showed him leading Republican Mike Rogers by 49.2 per cent to 44.5 per cent. A survey of 413 likely voters from these communities, conducted by Change Research for the New Arc Collective between October 16 and 23, gave him a 77 per cent lead.
The same survey found that 51 per cent identified affordability and the economy as their leading concern. A further 45 per cent cited the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Omar and Tlaib face attacks too
Why this vote matters beyond one community
What happens next
Frequently asked questions
When are the US midterm elections?
The midterm elections take place on November 3, 2026. They will decide control of the House of Representatives and influence the balance of power in the Senate.
How many Muslim Americans are contesting the midterms?
Muslim Network TV has identified 51 Muslim Americans contesting elections in about 23 states, including one Senate candidate and 10 congressional candidates. Some media reports put the number at more than 100.
Who is Abdul El-Sayed?
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate in Michigan’s Senate race. He is seeking to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate, and late-October polling showed him leading Republican Mike Rogers.
What issues matter most to Muslim American voters?
Surveys point to two leading concerns: the cost of living and the economy, and the candidate’s position on Gaza. In a CAIR survey, 63 per cent named cost of living as a leading concern, while 89 per cent said the Gaza position was very or extremely important.
Are Muslim American voters a single bloc?
No. Their party affiliations and views on domestic and foreign policy vary, and Arab Americans come from diverse religious backgrounds. The community should not be treated as a single voting bloc.
