Israel’s genocide in Gaza, US-Israel war on Iran shaped American Muslim vote: CAIR report
Exit poll of 522 Muslim voters found strong Democratic support, with economic pressures and Islamophobia also influencing participation
WASHINGTON (MNTV) — An overwhelming 93% of Muslim respondents reported voting in Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, reflecting high political participation among those surveyed.
The United States is home to an estimated 8 million Muslims, accounting for roughly 2% of the country’s population, with more than 2 million estimated to be registered voters.
According to an exit survey released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and CAIR Action, the genocide in Gaza, the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, rising living costs, and growing Islamophobia were among the leading factors shaping Muslim voters’ decisions.
The 2026 Exit Survey of Muslim Voters, conducted by Community Pulse for CAIR and CAIR Action, found that 80% of respondents who voted supported Democratic candidates, compared with 6% who voted for Republicans and 5% for independent candidates.
Another 1% supported third-party candidates, while 9% preferred not to disclose their choice.
The survey, conducted between November 2 and 4, included 522 registered voters who identified themselves as Muslim.
Its preliminary findings, based on responses collected through 9:42 a.m. Eastern Time on November 4 also showed high participation among respondents, with 93% reporting that they had voted.
Of those surveyed, 51% said they had voted early or by mail, while 41% reported voting in person on Election Day. Another 3% said they still planned to vote, while 4% said they had not voted and would not do so.
Gaza genocide and U.S.-Israel war on Iran among leading electoral concerns
Israel’s genocide in Gaza emerged as the most frequently cited issue influencing respondents’ voting decisions. Some 76% identified Gaza and Palestinian human rights among the issues that mattered most to them, while 80% said the genocide had been a major influence on their vote.
The U.S.-Israel war on Iran also featured prominently in respondents’ decisions. About 66% included the conflict among their five most important electoral issues, while 76% described it as a major influence on their vote.
When asked what message they intended to communicate through their ballots, 72% said they wanted to send a message calling for an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The same proportion said their vote was intended to prevent a wider war in the Middle East.
Economic concerns ranked alongside foreign policy issues. Some 66% identified the economy and inflation among their most important issues, while 80% said economic conditions had significantly influenced their voting decisions.
Additionally, 70% said they voted to support lower costs and greater economic opportunity.
Islamophobia and civil rights also influenced participation
The survey found that rising Islamophobia was another significant factor in Muslim voters’ participation. Seven in 10 respondents, or 70%, said increasing Islamophobia had motivated them to vote in the midterm elections.
Within that group, 55% said the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment had made them much more motivated to participate, while another 15% said it had made them somewhat more motivated. Meanwhile, 47% identified combating Islamophobia among their most important electoral issues.
Civil rights and religious freedom were also prominent concerns, with 43% naming them among their leading issues. Healthcare was cited by 42%, immigration by 39%, and education by 21%.
Asked what message they wanted to convey through their votes, 69% said they sought to protect civil rights and religious freedom, while 66% wanted to hold elected officials accountable. Another 62% said their votes were intended to oppose Islamophobia.
Democratic support does not translate into full party confidence
Despite the strong Democratic preference among respondents, the survey indicated that a considerable proportion remained dissatisfied with both major political parties’ responsiveness to American Muslim concerns.
Some 53% said the Democratic Party was more responsive to the concerns of American Muslims, compared with just 4% who selected the Republican Party.
Meanwhile, 33% said neither party was more responsive, while 5% believed both parties addressed Muslim concerns equally. Another 5% were unsure.
In a joint statement accompanying the findings, CAIR and CAIR Action said Muslim voters had overwhelmingly supported Democrats but that many remained unconvinced that either party listened to their concerns.
The organizations said the findings showed that Gaza genocide, U.S.-Israel war on Iran and economic pressures had driven voting choices, while rising Islamophobia had strengthened voters’ motivation to participate.
According to the demographic breakdown, 29% of respondents identified as Black or African American, 27% as Asian or South Asian, 18% as White, and 13% as Arab.
Another 7% identified as multiracial or another race, 2% as Hispanic or Latino, while 4% preferred not to disclose their racial or ethnic identity.
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