Dear Community,
Elections are a stage for the people’s voice and we thank you for bringing the Muslim voice to life at the polls! We’re following the election with you; this newsletter includes results as they roll in and highlights key races in your region
These are the first elections after census redistricting efforts, which bore witness to significant swing district races as well as a historic number of Muslim candidates. These results will impact the nation’s political landscape over the next two years and provide increased representation of the Muslim community at all levels of government.
Please contact CAIR-LA’s Senior Policy Coordinator Aliyah Yousufi at ayousufi@cair.com, if you have any questions or would like to get involved with our civic engagement efforts.
Greater Los Angeles
Congressional House
District 40 – Asif Mahmood (D) vs. Young Kim (R)
Includes: Chino Hills, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, Orange County, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo.
Background: District 40 is a swing district which was recently redistricted. The district is home to or adjacent to many Masajid within Orange County including the Islamic Center of Yorba Linda, Islamic Institute of Orange County, Islamic Center of Irvine, and the Rahma Center. Dr. Asif Mahmood has a healthcare background as a physician and incumbent Young Kim serves as a U.S. Representative for District 39.
Results: Young Kim (R).
District 41 – Ken Calvert (R) vs. Will Rollins (D)
Includes: Corona, Norco, Palm Springs, and Palm Desert.
Background: Ken Calvert serves as U.S. Representative for District 42 and Will Rollins served as a former federal prosecutor. This district includes the growing Muslim population in Corona and is home to the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco.
Results: Ken Calvert (R).
District 45 – Michelle Steel (R) vs. Jay Chen (D)
Includes: Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Westminster Fullerton, Cypress, and Brea.
Background: Michelle Steel serves as U.S. Representative for District 48 and Jay Chen is a Veteran of the Unites States Navy. This district has one of the largest Muslim populations in Southern California and is home to the Islamic Society of Orange County, Islamic Center of Fountain Valley, Al-Noor Foundation in Westminster, Islamic Center of Cypress, and Islamic Center of Fullerton
Results: Michelle Steel (R).
District 47 – Katie Porter (D) vs. Scott Baugh (R)
Includes: Irvine and covers parts of Laguna Beach, Newport, and Huntington Beach.
Background: Katie Porter served as U.S. Representative for District 45 and Scott Baugh served as the Assemblymember for District 67 in the California State Assembly. This district hosts a large and active Muslim population in Irvine as well as the Islamic Center of Irvine, one of the largest masjids in Southern California.
Preliminary results: Katie Porter (D) leads Scott Baugh (D) 51.4% to 48.6% with approximately 93% of votes counted.
State Assembly
District 63 – Fauzia Rizvi (D) vs. Bill Essayli (R)
Includes: Corona, Norco, Menifee, Temescal Valley, and Lake Elsinore.
Background: Fauzia Rizvi serves as a member of the Western Municipal Water District and Bill Essayli served as a former prosecutor and attorney. This district has a large and growing Muslim population, with many in the region attending the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco.
Results: Bill Essayli (R).
District 70 – Tri Ta (R) vs. Diedre Nguyen (D)
Includes: Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Westminster.
Background: This election determines Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell’s (D) replacement as he retires from his 8-year tenure with the California State Assembly. Tri Ta serves as the Mayor of Westminster, California and Diedre Nguyen works as a Supervisor with the Hematology Oncology Department at the Nichols Institute. This district hosts a large Muslim population and is home to the Islamic Society of Orange County, Islamic Center of Fountain Valley, Al-Noor Foundation in Westminster
Preliminary results: Tri Ta (R) leads Diedre Nguyen (D) 55% to 45% with approximately 64% of votes counted.
District 73 – Cottie Petrie-Norris (D) vs. Steven Choi (R)
Includes: Irvine, Tustin, and Costa Mesa.
Background: Cottie Petrie-Norris serves as the Assemblymember for District 74 and Steven Choi serves as the Assemblymember for District 68 in the California State Assembly. This district hosts a large and active Muslim population in Irvine, Tustin, and Costa Mesa and includes the Islamic Center of Irvine, the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County, and DarulFalah Islamic Center in Tustin.
Results: Cottie Petrie-Norris (D).
Mayor
Los Angeles – Karen Bass vs. Rick Caruso
Background: This election determines Mayor Eric Garcetti’s replacement as his office term limits have come to an end following a 9-year tenure as Los Angeles Mayor. Karen Bass serves as a U.S. Representative for District 37 and Rick Caruso is the founder of Caruso, a real-estate company.
Results: Karen Bass (D).
City Attorney
Faisal Gill vs. Hydee Feldstein Soto
Background: This election determines Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer’s replacement. Faisal Gill is an attorney with a background in civil rights and Hydee Feldstein Soto is a retired attorney with a background in corporate law.
Preliminary results: Hydee Feldstein Soto leads Faisal Gill 56.6% to 43.5%.
Orange County Board of Supervisors
District 2 – Vicente Sarmiento vs. Kim Bernice Nguyen
Includes: Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma.
Background: District 2 is the first Latino majority county district in Orange County history. It also houses the newly designated Little Arabia district in Anaheim. Vicente Sarmiento serves as the Mayor of Santa Ana and Kim Bernice Nguyen serves as a Councilmember for the Garden Grove City Council.
Preliminary results: Vicente Sarmiento leads Kim Bernice Nguyen 51.6%.
District 4 – Doug Chaffee vs. Sunny Park
Includes: Brea, Buena Park, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, and parts of Anaheim.
Background: Doug Chaffee is an incumbent serving as the Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Sunny Park serves as the Mayor of Buena Park.
Preliminary results: Doug Chaffee leads Sunny Park 55.7% to 44.3%.
District 5 – Katrina Foley vs. Pat Bates
Includes: Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, San Juan Capistrano.
Background: Katrina Foley serves as the District 2 Supervisor with the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Pat Bates serves as the Senator for District 36 with the California State Senate.
Preliminary results: Katrina Foley leads Pat Bates 51.1% to 48.9%.
Other Notable Races featuring Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian candidates:
Irvine Mayoral Race
Farrah Khan vs. Branda Lin
Background: Farrah Khan serves as the incumbent Mayor of Irvine and Branda Lin served as Co-Chair of Irvine Watchdog, a nonprofit.
Results: Farrah N. Khan (D).
Fullerton City Council Race
District 5 – Ahmad Zahra vs. Oscar Valadez
Background: Ahmad Zahra serves as the incumbent Fullerton City Councilmember for District 5 and Oscar Valadez serves as a Commissioner with the Orange County Transportation Authority.
Results: Ahmad Zahra.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District
Sara Deen
Background: Sara Deen is a dentist and Youth Facilitator with Community Partners.
Results: Sara Deen.
The nationwide midterm elections saw a record breaking 145 American Muslim candidates running for office this year! You can find more information in this CAIR National press release.
Sincerely,
Nazeehah Khan
CAIR-CA Policy & Government Affairs Manager
As a note, CAIR-CA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and cannot advocate for specific candidates for office or party preference. However, CAIR-CA can encourage American Muslims to engage in the election process, conduct voter registration training programs, issue briefings, host candidate forums, educate the community on issues, take positions on legislation, and lead get-out-the-vote drives. CAIR-CA also issues Voter Guides for state and local elections, and both are made available on your local CAIR office’s website. made available on your local CAIR office’s website.