Updated figures show historic Muslim representation in public office
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/20/26) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and CAIR Action, one of America's leading Muslim political organizations, today announced the release of the 2026 Directory of Elected Muslim Officials, identifying a record-breaking 255 Muslim elected officials serving across 26 states and at nearly every level of government.
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The new figures represent a significant milestone for American Muslim civic and political participation and demonstrate the expanding presence of Muslim public servants in communities nationwide.
Key Findings from the 2026 Directory
- Local government represents the largest share of Muslim elected leadership. The directory identifies 98 Muslim council members, accounting for 38.4% of all Muslim elected officials
- Nearly one-quarter serve in education-related positions. The directory identifies 63 Muslim elected officials in education, representing 24.7% of the nationwide total. This makes education the second-largest category of Muslim elected public service.
- State legislatures account for 18% of Muslim elected officials. A combined 46 Muslim officials serve as state representatives or state senators, representing approximately 18.0% of all officials identified. This includes 32 state representatives (12.5%) and 14 state senators (5.5%).
- The directory identifies 11 Muslim mayors, representing 4.3% of all Muslim elected officials documented nationwide.
- 18 Muslim judges are represented in the directory. Muslim judges account for 7.1% of all officials identified, reflecting Muslim representation within elected judicial offices.
- Four Muslim Americans serve in Congress in the House of Representatives. Members of Congress represent 1.6% of the directory's total.
- 15 officials serve in other elected positions such as law enforcement, municipal, transportation, etc.
- Nearly two-thirds serve in local councils or education. Combined, the 98 council members and 63 education officials account for 161 of the 255 officials — 63.1% of the entire directory.
Women Represent More Than 4 in 10 Muslim Elected Officials
The directory also demonstrates significant representation of Muslim women in elected office. Of the 255 elected Muslim officials identified nationwide:
- 110 are women — 43.1%
- 145 are men — 56.9%
Women therefore represent more than four out of every ten Muslim elected officials identified in the 2026 directory, a share that exceeds women's representation in both the U.S. Congress (28.2%) and state legislatures nationwide (33.6%)
Community Response Leads to Significant Increase in Identified Officials
NOTE: Since CAIR and CAIR Action first announced the forthcoming 2026 Directory of Elected Muslim Officials, members of the Muslim community, local leaders, elected officials and CAIR chapters across the country have provided additional information identifying Muslim elected officials who were not included in the initial count.
As a result of this community response and additional verification, the total number of officials included in the final directory increased significantly from the preliminary figures announced earlier.
The increase reflects both the growing number of Muslims serving in public office and the challenges of maintaining a comprehensive national count of Muslim elected officials across thousands of federal, state, county, municipal, judicial, school board and other local offices.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“This record-breaking number represents far more than a statistic. It reflects an American Muslim community that is increasingly engaged, organized and committed to serving our nation.
“From Congress and state legislatures to city councils, school boards and local governments, Muslim Americans are stepping forward to serve their neighbors and strengthen our democracy. At a time of heightened anti-Muslim rhetoric, these public servants send a powerful message that American Muslims will continue to participate freely and fearlessly in the civic life of our nation.”
In a statement, CAIR Action Executive Director Bassim Elkarra said:
“The record number of Muslim elected officials identified in this directory demonstrates the growing political strength and civic engagement of Muslim communities nationwide. It is especially encouraging that after we announced this project, community members across the country stepped forward to help us identify even more Muslim public servants.
“This directory is not only a record of where we are today. It is a reminder of what is possible when our communities vote, organize, run for office and participate at every level of our democracy.”
A Growing Presence at Every Level of Government
The 2026 Directory of Elected Muslim Officials includes Muslim Americans serving in a wide range of positions, including members of Congress, state senators, state representatives and assembly members, judges, mayors, city and county council members, commissioners, school board members, clerks and other elected offices.
The directory builds on CAIR’s previous efforts to document Muslim representation in public office and provides an updated national snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
CAIR and CAIR Action said the directory is intended to serve as a resource for journalists, researchers, policymakers, civic organizations and Muslim communities seeking to better understand the growth and geographic reach of Muslim representation in American government.
METHODOLOGY NOTE: Figures represent the most current information identified and verified by CAIR and CAIR Action at the time of publication. Because there is no centralized national database tracking elected officials by faith, the directory relies on research, publicly available information, CAIR chapters, community submissions and other sources. Numbers and percentages are subject to change as additional officials are identified, elected officials enter or leave office, or officials transition to new positions.
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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.
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 Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
CAIR Action Executive Director, Basim Elkarra, belkarra@cairaction.org;
CAIR Action Communications, communications@cairaction.org, media@cairaction.org