CAIR, CAIR Action Congratulate 38 Muslim Election Winners, Report At Least 76 Muslim Candidates Nationwide

• Historic Firsts Include Zohran K. Mamdani’s Election as NYC’s First Muslim Mayor and
• Ghazala Hashmi’s Win as Virginia’s First Muslim Woman Elected Statewide
• Exit Poll of Muslim Voters in CA, NJ, NY, MI, and VA to Be Released Tomorrow

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and CAIR Action, its advocacy affiliate, today released updated tracking results from the November 5 elections showing record Muslim participation and 38 confirmed victories nationwide out of 76 Muslim candidates on the ballot across the nation. CAIR and CAIR Action note that this is a preliminary list and believe additional Muslim candidates ran for office and were elected.

Too Close to Call: In Hamtramck, MI, two Muslim candidates are vying for mayor in a still-undecided race that will ensure a Muslim wins. Three additional contests remain pending, subject to recounts or run-offs.

Read: CAIR and CAIR Action’s 2025 Muslim Candidate Tracker

Note: CAIR and CAIR Action will issue a comprehensive post-election analysis on Friday, detailing exit-poll findings and the broader implications for American Muslim political representation.

The 2025 off-year elections produced multiple historic milestones, including Zohran K. Mamdani’s election as New York City’s first Muslim mayor and Ghazala Hashmi’s victory as Virginia’s first Muslim lieutenant governor, making her the first Muslim woman ever elected to statewide office in U.S. history, following Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s previous precedent as the first Muslim man elected statewide.

In a joint statement, CAIR and CAIR Action said:

“These victories are not only wins for Muslim Americans, they are wins for all Americans who believe in justice, equality, and democratic participation.

“Every Muslim who ran for office this year demonstrated extraordinary courage and integrity, and many won despite facing a wave of anti-Muslim hate and organized disinformation. Those who prevailed now carry the trust of their entire communities – regardless of faith – to serve with a commitment to the common good.

“At a time when many American Muslim candidates endured slander, harassment, and overt Islamophobia, their strength and dedication to public service send a clear message that bigotry has no place in American politics and that Americans are rejecting anti-Muslim campaign rhetoric and cheap political attacks.

“Moving forward, we are excited to mobilize the American Muslim community to reach even greater heights of civic engagement in the 2026 midterm elections.”

Other Related Resources

• CAIR Congratulates History-Making VA Lt. Gov. Winner Ghazala Hashmi, First Muslim Woman Elected to Statewide Office in America
• CAIR and CAIR-NY Call Zohran Mamdani’s Victory a Turning Point for Muslims in Politics and a Historic Rebuke of Islamophobia and Anti-Palestinian Politics

Notable Muslim Victories Nationwide

The following candidates represent confirmed 2025 election wins by Muslim Americans at the state, local, and judicial levels across nine states, marking another year of growing civic participation and representation.

Statewide and Legislative Winners

1. Ghazala Hashmi – Lieutenant Governor, Virginia
2. Sam Rasoul – Virginia House of Delegates (District 38)
3. Atoosa R. Reaser – Virginia House of Delegates (District 27)
4. Al Abdelaziz – New Jersey General Assembly (District 35)

Mayoral Winners

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 Council and Commissioner Winners

10. Hassan Ahmad – Dearborn Heights City Council (MI)
11. Kamal Alsawafy – Dearborn City Council (MI)
12. Mustapha Hammoud – Dearborn City Council (MI)
13. Nayeem L. Choudhury – Hamtramck City Council (MI)
14. Abu A. Musa – Hamtramck City Council (MI)
15. Yousuf Saed – Hamtramck City Council (MI)
16. Aisha Chughtai – Minneapolis City Council, Ward 10 (MN)
17. Jamal Osman – Minneapolis City Council, Ward 6 (MN)
18. Aurin Chowdhury – Minneapolis City Council, Ward 12 (MN)
19. Ibrahim Omar – Paterson City Council, Ward 6 (NJ)
20. Mohamed Egal – SeaTac City Council (WA)
21. Rami Al-Kabra – Bothell City Council (WA)
22. Naren Briar – Bellevue City Council (WA)
23. Nadia Rasul – Hilliard City Council (OH)
24. Mohamed Omar – Grove City Council (OH)
25. Haseeb Fatmi – Wake Forest Town Commissioner (NC)
26. Hamdi Mohamed – Port of Seattle Commission (WA)
27. Nadeem Qayyum – Northampton County City Council (PA)
28. Siddiq Kamara – Sheriff, Delaware County (PA)

Judicial and County Office Winners

29. Ajmeri Hoque – Franklin County Municipal Court Judge (OH)
30. Soma S. Syed – Justice, NY Supreme Court (11th Judicial District)

Education and School Board Winners

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 (NY)
37. Shahana Hanif – New York City Council, District 39 (NY)

Close or Runoff Races Still Pending

• Akbar Ali – Georgia House of Representatives, District 106 (Runoff on Dec. 2, 2025)
• Adam Alharbi vs. Muhith Mahmood – Hamtramck Mayor, MI (Muslim vs. Muslim race, too close to call; guaranteed Muslim win)
• Bedria Abdullahi – SeaTac City Council, WA (Recount margin)
• Tanmay Shah – Cleveland City Council, OH (Recount margin)

Status: Preliminary Report and Call for Submissions

CAIR and CAIR Action note that these are preliminary election results subject to official certification and ongoing local reporting. They encourage candidates, campaigns, and members of the public to help update and complete this national record by emailing info@cair.com with the subject line “2025 November Election.”

CAIR and CAIR Action will issue a final count report and release the new 2025–2026 Directory of Elected Muslim Officials in January.

CAIR is a 501(c)3 organization and America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose candidates for office and makes no claims as to the favorability of one candidate being elected over another.

CAIR Action is a 501(c)4 organization. Its mission is to engage, educate, and mobilize Muslim voters, train emerging leaders, and champion policy priorities that enhance the well-being and representation of Muslim communities. Through its work, CAIR Action aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive democratic society where the rights and voices of Muslims are acknowledged and respected.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; Basim Elkarra, Executive Director, CAIR Action, belkarra@cairaction.org; CAIR Action Communications, media@cairaction.org