Meet the Muslim women who made history this election
From Congress to statehouses, Muslim women were among defining winners of 2026 midterms
By MNTV Staff Writer
Muslim women ran — and won — in record numbers in the 2026 US elections, reelecting veterans and sending a new generation of barrier-breakers to Washington and to state capitals, often in the face of intense Islamophobic attacks.
Here are some of the women who made history.
Rashida Tlaib — US House, Michigan (12th District) The first Palestinian American woman elected to Congress, the Detroit-born daughter of immigrants won a fifth term. One of its most forceful voices on Palestinian rights and working-class communities, she has long been a target of attacks from Republicans and some fellow Democrats alike.
Ilhan Omar — US House, Minnesota (5th District) One of the first two Muslim women in Congress, the Somali American former refugee won another term even as the Trump administration pursues an investigation that could strip her citizenship. A member of the progressive “Squad,” she is among the most prominent — and most targeted — Muslims in US politics.
Darializa Avila Chevalier — US House, New York (13th District) An Afro-Latina Muslim and democratic socialist, the 29-year-old newcomer stunned the establishment by unseating a 10-term incumbent in the primary, then winning the seat. A former legal investigator in Harlem backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, she campaigned to dismantle ICE and fully fund public housing.
Aber Kawas — New York State Senate (Queens) A Palestinian American community organizer born and raised in Queens, Kawas becomes the first Palestinian Muslim woman in the New York State legislature. Backed by Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America, she rose through grassroots organizing — much of it around Gaza.
Iman Jodeh — Colorado State Senate (29th District) The daughter of Palestinian immigrants and the first Muslim, Arab woman and Palestinian American in Colorado’s legislature, Jodeh won her Aurora-area Senate seat. A longtime community organizer, she has championed immigrant rights, affordable housing and health care.
Ruwa Romman — Georgia State Senate The first Palestinian American and first Muslim woman elected to the Georgia House, Romman won election to the state Senate, extending a trailblazing rise in the Deep South. She ran on health care and public education and has become a leading Palestinian American voice in Georgia politics.
Nabeela Syed — Illinois State Senate (26th District) The Indian American Democrat made history in 2022 at age 23 as one of the first Muslim women in the Illinois General Assembly. This year she stepped up from the state House, flipping a Republican-held state Senate seat for her party.
Their wins were part of a record cycle for Muslim Americans — at least 36 had won by Wednesday, per MNTV tallies — and came on the same night Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more races are called.
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