Dear Community,
We spend all year talking about the importance of showing up at the polls. But this election, let’s talk about how you showed up on the polls.
A record-breaking 146 American Muslims ran for office nationwide and 82 hailed electoral victories this midterm election! The number surpasses the previous record of 71 set in 2020. We’ve had victories in Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota—and last, but not least, California.
In this newsletter, you’ll get the big picture on who those elected officials are and the key California officials representing you for the next two years.
Muslim Elected Officials
Let’s get you acquainted with some newly elected Muslim elected officials throughout the country:
Spotlight: Aisha Wahab (D) (California Senate D-10)
Wahab is the first Muslim and Afghan-American elected into the California State Legislature. The Senator-elect made history in 2018 then as the first Afghan American elected to public office in the United States as a Hayward City Councilmember. Wahab has partnered with CAIR and the Muslim community in numerous advocacy initiatives, including to respond to Islamophobia. Her priorities include housing accessibility, supporting small businesses, ensuring public safety and justice, climate action, healthcare accessibility, and protection for reproductive healthcare.
Spotlight: Ruwa Romman (D) (Georgia House D-97)
Romman is the first Muslim elected into the Georgia State House and and the first Palestinian-American elected to Georgia public office. She is a former Communications Director with CAIR-Georgia where she oversaw the chapter’s internal and external communication efforts, including government outreach, public relations, and social networking.
Spotlight: Zaynab Mohamed (D) (Minnesota Senate D-63)
Mohamed is the first Muslim woman elected into the Minnesota State Senate. She has a policy background and is a former Community Advocacy Manager with CAIR-Minnesota where she provided a direct response to victims of hate, developed coalitions to address Islamophobia, and conducted community engagement initiatives.
- Bill Essayli (R) (California Assembly D-63)
- Abdelnasser Rashid (Illinois House D-21)
- Nabilah Islam (D) (Georgia Senate D-7)
- Deqa Dhalac (D) (Maine House D-120)
- Kayse Jama (D) (Oregon Senate D-24)
- Salman Bhojani (D) (Texas House D-92)
- Suleman Lalani (Texas House D-76)
- Yasmin Trudeau (D) (Washington Senate D-27)
Local Muslim Elected Officials
American Muslims are not only representing you at the Capitol, but they’re also hard at work in your cities. Here are a few new and familiar faces which won big this election:
Spotlight: Sarah Deen (Palos Verdes Peninsula School Board)
Deen is a long-time education advocate and most recently served as President of the South Coast Interfaith Council- the oldest and largest interfaith council in Southern California serving 35 cities in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Spotlight: Farrah Khan (Irvine Mayor)
Khan’s first term coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic and she led Irvine in spearheading COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics in local neighborhoods and senior centers, passing HERO pay for frontline grocery workers, creating a new committee focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and passing an ordinance to make Irvine carbon neutral by 2030.
Spotlight: Maimona Afzal (Santa Clara County Board of Education)
Afzal first assumed office in 2018 and is an alumna of the CAIR-CA Muslim Youth Leadership Program Class of 2011. She was previously employed as a middle school Director and Educator at the Alum Rock School District.
- Ali Sajjad Taj (Artesia City Council)
- Ahmad Zahra (Fullerton City Council)
New Elected Officials
California
Now let’s get you acquainted with some key California law makers representing you either for the first time or in a new role:
U.S. House of Representatives
- Kevin Mullin (D) (CD-15)
State
- Esmeralda Soria (D) (AD-27)
- Liz Ortega (D) (AD-20)
- Catherine Blakespear (D) (SD-38)
- Stephanie Nguyen (D) (AD-10)
- Katie Valenzuela (D) (AD-4)
- David Shepard (R) (SD-16)
- Roger Niello (R) (SD-6)
Local
- Karen Bass (Los Angeles Mayor)
- Vicente Sarmiento (Orange County Board of Supervisors)
- Ashleigh Aitken (Anaheim Mayor)
- Eric Joyce (Oceanside City Council)
- Kent Lee (San Diego City Council)
- Cody Peterson (San Diego City School Board)
- Sheng Thao (Oakland Mayor)
Incumbent Elected Officials
Congressional & California
And finally, let’s introduce you to some familiar faces in the U.S. House of Representatives and State Legislature:
Muslims in the U.S. House of Representatives
- Andre Carson (D) (Indiana CD-7)
- Ilhan Omar (D) (Minnesota CD-5)
- Rashida Tlaib (D) (Michigan CD-13)
U.S. House of Representatives
- Sara Jacobs (D) (CD-53)
- Mike Levin (D) (CD-49)
- Ken Calvert (R) (CD-41)
- Michelle Steel (R) (CD-45)
- Katie Porter (D) (CD-47)
State
- Brian Maienschein (D) (AD-77)
- Joaquin Arambula (D) (AD-31)
- Devon Mathis (R) (AD-33)
- Laurie Davis (R) (AD-74)
- Chris Ward (D) (AD-78)
Local
- Nathan Fletcher (San Diego County Board of Supervisors)
- Summer Stephan (San Diego District Attorney)
Warmly,
Nazeehah Khan
CAIR-CA Policy & Government Affairs Manager