Arab & Muslim News in the US and Canada

2026 U.S. Midterm Elections

On November 3, 2026, Americans elect all 435 House seats, about a third of the Senate, plus governors, state legislatures and local offices. Mahjar Post tracks the news of Arab and Muslim candidates in this section. Below is an initial guide to 51 documented candidates across 16 states — 10 federal and 41 at the state, county and local levels — updated as races develop, since no official national tally exists. CAIR reports a record 255 Muslim elected officials nationwide this year.

U.S. Congress State races County offices Local races Michigan Minnesota California Illinois Texas New York Connecticut Georgia Ohio North Carolina Pennsylvania Delaware Colorado

U.S. Congress

U.S. Senate

Abdul El-SayedU.S. Senate · Democrat

Egyptian American Muslim physician. Won the Aug. 4 Democratic primary and faces Republican Mike Rogers; a win would make him the first Muslim U.S. senator

U.S. House

Zuhdi JasserU.S. House AZ-4 · Republican

Syrian American Muslim running as a Republican against Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton — a rare Muslim GOP nominee

Lateefah SimonU.S. House CA-12 · Democrat

Muslim incumbent elected in 2024, seeking re-election

Aisha WahabU.S. House CA-14 · Democrat

Afghan American Muslim; won an August special election to complete a vacant term and now runs for a full term

André CarsonU.S. House IN-7 · Democrat

Muslim incumbent holding the seat since 2008, seeking re-election

Rashida TlaibU.S. House MI-12 · Democrat

Palestinian American Muslim incumbent seeking re-election

Ilhan OmarU.S. House MN-5 · Democrat (DFL)

Somali American Muslim incumbent seeking a fifth term after winning her primary with 80.7% of the vote

Adam HamawyU.S. House NJ-12 · Democrat

Egyptian American Muslim surgeon; served as a volunteer doctor in Gaza in 2024. A win would make him the first Muslim congressman from New Jersey

Darializa Avila ChevalierU.S. House NY-13 · Democrat

Muslim Afro-Latina investigator at a public defender's office in Harlem; unseated an incumbent in the June 23 primary and is favored in this deep-blue district

Maad Abu-GhazalahU.S. House NC-7 · Libertarian

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot as a Libertarian

State races

Michigan

Jalal AbdallahMI State House D15 · Democrat

Arab American attorney; the Democratic nominee for the seat

Alabas FarhatMI State House D3 · Democrat

Arab American representing Dearborn since 2023, seeking re-election

Abbas AlawiehMI State Senate D2 · Democrat

Arab American Muslim; won the Democratic primary and would be the first Arab Muslim in the Michigan Senate

Mariam Saad BazziMichigan Court of Appeals, 1st District · Nonpartisan

The state's first Arab Muslim appellate judge; appointed in 2025 and running for a full term

Wissam CharafeddineMichigan State Board of Education · Green Party

Arab American Muslim; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Amir MakledUniv. of Michigan Board of Regents · Democrat

Lebanese American attorney; hopes to be the first Arab Muslim American on the University of Michigan board

Shereef AkeelWayne State Univ. Board of Governors · Democrat

Arab American Muslim; won the Democratic convention nomination

Minnesota

Mohamud NoorMN House D60B · Democrat (DFL)

Muslim; incumbent seeking re-election

Anquam MahamoudMN House D62B · Democrat (DFL)

Muslim; incumbent seeking re-election

Samakab HusseinMN House D65A · Democrat (DFL)

Muslim; incumbent seeking re-election

Omar FatehMN State Senate D62 · Democrat (DFL)

Somali American; the first Somali American in the Minnesota Senate, seeking re-election

Zaynab MohamedMN State Senate D63 · Democrat (DFL)

Muslim; incumbent seeking re-election

Illinois

Abdelnasser RashidIL House D21 · Democrat

Palestinian American; the first Palestinian American in the Illinois legislature, seeking re-election

Saba HaiderIL House D84 · Democrat

Muslim; won the Democratic primary

Nabeela SyedIL State Senate D26 · Democrat

Indian American; among the first Muslim women in the Illinois legislature, a state representative now running for the Senate

Texas

Suleman LalaniTX House D76 · Democrat

Pakistani American; one of the first two Muslims in the Texas legislature, seeking re-election

Salman BhojaniTX House D92 · Democrat

Pakistani American; one of the first two Muslims in the Texas legislature, seeking re-election

New York

Aber KawasNY State Senate D12 · Democrat

Palestinian American Muslim; Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 12

Connecticut

Maryam KhanCT State Senate D2 · Democrat

First Muslim woman elected to the Connecticut House, now running for the state Senate

Saud AnwarCT State Senate D3 · Democrat

Pakistani American; the first Muslim in the Connecticut Senate, seeking re-election

Georgia

Farooq MughalGA House D105 · Democrat

Pakistani American; the first Muslim in the Georgia House, a former state representative running to regain the seat

Sheikh RahmanGA State Senate D5 · Democrat

Bangladeshi American; the first Muslim in the Georgia legislature, seeking re-election

Ohio

Ismail MohamedOH House D3 · Democrat

Somali American; one of the first two Muslims in the Ohio legislature, seeking re-election

Munira AbdullahiOH House D9 · Democrat

Somali American; the first Muslim woman in the Ohio legislature, seeking re-election

North Carolina

Mujtaba MohammedNC State Senate D38 · Democrat

The first Muslim in the North Carolina Senate, seeking re-election

Pennsylvania

Tarik KhanPA House D194 · Democrat

Pakistani American nurse practitioner; the first Muslim man in the Pennsylvania legislature, seeking re-election

Delaware

Madinah Wilson-AntonDE House D26 · Democrat

The first Muslim elected to the Delaware legislature, seeking re-election

Colorado

Iman JodehCO State Senate D29 · Democrat

Palestinian American; the first Muslim in the Colorado legislature, a state senator appointed in 2025, now running for a full term

County offices

Texas

Letitia PlummerHarris County Judge (county executive) · Democrat

Yemeni and Iranian American; former Houston council member and Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge — would be the first Muslim county executive in Texas

Local races

Michigan

Rima MohammadAnn Arbor Board of Education · Nonpartisan

Arab American Muslim; incumbent seeking re-election

Billy AmenCrestwood Board of Education · Nonpartisan

Arab American; incumbent seeking re-election

Ali Kamel BazziDearborn Board of Education (2-yr partial seat) · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Nasri SobhDearborn Board of Education (6-yr seat) · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Mallak AnaniDearborn Board of Education (6-yr seat) · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Mohamed HamiehDearborn Heights Charter Commission · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot, contingent on voters approving the charter review

Dana MohammadDearborn Heights Charter Commission · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot, contingent on voters approving the charter review

Sam SakkaDearborn Heights Charter Commission · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot, contingent on voters approving the charter review

Elyana HussainDearborn Heights Charter Commission · Nonpartisan

Arab American; on the Nov. 3 ballot, contingent on voters approving the charter review

California

Aziz AkbariFremont City Council, District 4 · Nonpartisan

Muslim; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Kashif WasimNew Haven Unified School District board, Trustee Area 4 · Nonpartisan

Muslim; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Qasim LodhiUnion City Council, District 4 · Nonpartisan

Muslim; on the Nov. 3 ballot

Candidate interviews

Mahjar Post interview with Wissam Charafeddine, Green Party candidate for the Michigan State Board of Education Mahjar Post interview with Kashif Wasim, candidate for New Haven Unified School District board, Trustee Area 4

Candidate and election stories

Michigan Senate nominee El-Sayed tells Dearborn roundtable: “I will show up. I don’t back down.”White powder mailed to metro Detroit offices of Reps. Tlaib and Thanedar amid national wave Avila Chevalier makes case to abolish ICE in Telemundo interview UMich regents candidate Amir Makled tells Dearborn forum he has faced Islamophobia since high school House GOP faces decision on congressional privilege after raid on Omar's home, Politico reports Boston Globe: Tensions between Black and Arab American voters roil Michigan Senate race MS NOW: Michigan Arab and Muslim leaders say Trump's attacks on El-Sayed have closed the door on Republicans MPR News: Omar says she won't be 'intimidated' by federal investigation Rouzer's absence from Cape Fear candidate forums draws criticism from opponents, WWAY reports Pa. Reps. Khan and Flick introduce bipartisan online gambling bill, according to Khan's office Pa. Rep. Tarik Khan says Garrity's AI ad could advance his bill to ban deepfake political ads, FOX43 reports CAIR Action NJ endorses 28 candidates for Nov. 3 election, opposes Van Drew, Kean Jr. and Murphy Fox News: Omar's sister voluntarily spoke with federal investigators in immigration probe Fox News: Trump says Omar could face jail or deportation ABC News: El-Sayed says attacks on his faith are meant to distract from Americans' struggles El-Sayed, Rogers pitch competing economic visions at Detroit Economic Club forum Tlaib urges U.S. to arrest Israeli commander over Hind Rajab killing El-Sayed highlights faith in new ad after Republican attacks El-Sayed takes Senate campaign into Michigan’s Republican-leaning Upper Peninsula Planned Omar-Fateh event with Piker draws criticism in Minnesota Crypto PAC reports $362,000 in ads supporting Aisha Wahab in California Simon alleges Latino voter intimidation Avila Chevalier and Kiros say stopping arms to Israel is a priority Man who heckled El-Sayed over Muslim Brotherhood is former Hawley aide, records show When religion becomes a disqualification, but misconduct gets a pass The raid on Ilhan Omar’s house is dangerous political theater Tlaib introduces bill to restore protected status for Yemenis in the US Abu-Ghazalah uses empty chair to protest Rouzer's forum absence CBS correspondent apologizes for post praising El-Sayed town-hall attendee What El-Sayed's Senate nomination means | And why it will bother Egypt's government as it bothered Israel and the lobby Homan says Omar could “of course” be denaturalized and deported if evidence supports it Lawsuit argues Omar home search violated Hatch Act as legal questions mount Obama calls federal probe of Omar a political attack that should “outrage all Americans”Somali American officers address gang violence at Minneapolis town hall led by state senator CNN: Legal experts say stripping Rep. Ilhan Omar of her citizenship would not be easy Adam Hamawy discusses Gaza, health care and ICE at Rutgers Q&A El-Sayed disavows Muslim Brotherhood at Michigan town hall, rejects “dual loyalty” charge Omar’s attorneys demand return of seized property, call home search unlawful Ilhan Omar and Narges Mohammadi.. Between Trump's Hammer and the Anvil of Iran's Mullahs Five candidates seek three Dearborn school board seats as $1.5 billion bond heads to voters Wahab challenges Hernandez after Taliban remark at Dublin debate Avila Chevalier says dispute is with Tisch, not Mamdani Anwar calls for accountability over East Windsor nursing-home complaint Chronicle reports 43 council absences for Plummer; campaign defends her record What it would take to strip Ilhan Omar of her US citizenship Federal agents seize Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone in criminal probe, AP source says Minneapolis Somali community on edge amid Trump rhetoric and backlash Tlaib introduces bill to block federal funding for Flock surveillance Rogers camp accused of scorched-earth campaign against El-Sayed El-Sayed campaign and Farhat reject RNC chair’s 9/11 claim Poll puts Plummer seven points ahead in Harris County judge race Former prosecutors question timing of Omar search CAIR condemns search of Omar's home Federal agents search Ilhan Omar's home El-Sayed and Rogers debate immigration and foreign policy in Michigan AAPAC announces its picks for Michigan's Nov. 3 election CAIR calls for rejection of religious attacks on candidates

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Reports summarised from the sources linked on each story page. Corrections welcome.