American Muslims, Including Women, Make History In Elections Across the U.S

American Muslims won big around the country following Tuesday’s elections. Many large cities across the U.S. recorded their first Muslim elected officials in various political offices.

Pictured: Shahana HanifShahana Hanif, a Bangladeshi American, won a seat in New York City’s City Council, where she was previously employed. Even though there are nearly 770,000 Muslims living in New York City, Hanif is the first Muslim elected to the council.

“Together we are building an anti-racist, feminist city,” she said in a statement. “We deserve a city that protects its most vulnerable, a city that has equitable education, a city invested in climate solutions that are local and driven by communities, a city where our immigrant neighbors feel at home and heard and safe. This work requires all of us to keep showing up even though the election is over.”

Two Muslim women were also elected in Massachusetts. TaniaPictured: Tania Anderson Fernandes Anderson made history as Boston’s first American Muslim city councilor. She believes that there is still a lot of work to be done.

“I don’t feel like we’ve totally won yet, but we’ve made a huge accomplishment,” she said. “We will win together if we partner, if I include people, if I’m responsive, if I’m effective...if we can continue to work on breaking down the segregation between Roxbury and South End, if we can begin to be actually sincere about the work and putting the community first. That’s when I will start feeling really good.”

Pictured: Etel Haxhiaj50 miles east of Boston, Etel Haxhiaj won a city council seat in Worcester by 54%.

“What I know resonated with voters is someone who ran a positive campaign, somebody who is interested in listening to folks,” she said. “I took a special interest in people up in Pleasant Street that talked about traffic issues. People resonated with the idea that a city councilor knows about issues like affordable housing and specifically about using the federal dollars that we’re receiving in the city to benefit all neighborhoods. And I think the cornerstone of this campaign was to make sure that all neighborhoods and voices are included in community planning.”

In New Jersey, Shama Haider won the race for State AssemblyPictured: Shama Haider in District 37. She credited her success to her campaign team.

“I am extraordinarily proud of our campaign,” she said. “I’m grateful to my historic running mates, who have been an immense support through these months, and I am immeasurably grateful to all the people who worked and volunteered to make this victory possible.”

Pictured: Taiba SultanaIn Pennsylvania, Taiba Sultana won a seat at the Easton City Council. She says as the first Muslim and Asian American, the campaign wasn’t easy.

“We faced a lot in this campaign — racism, bigotry, Islamophobia and an incumbent who had all the structural and established support,” she said. “So much has been said about me in this and in past campaigns, but voters saw through it. This is exactly what a representative democracy is all about.

In Duluth, Minn., Azrin Awal celebrated her election as the firstPictured: Azrin Awal Asian American and Muslim on the City Council.

“It feels exhilarating,” she said. “I recognize the privilege and the honor that comes with that. It makes me want to ground myself with my community even more as we go forward and make positive change.”

Meanwhile, three southeastern cities in Michigan — Dearborn, Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights — made history with their mayoral elections.

Abdullah Hammoud, an Arab American, defeated former Pictured: Abdullah HammoudState Representative Gary Woronchak, receiving 54.6% of the votes. He expressed his thanks to the Dearborn community.

“The people of Dearborn spoke loudly. They want change and bold leadership to tackle the challenges we face,” he said. “We live in the greatest city in America and I’m excited about what we can achieve together when we rally around a common vision.”

Pictured: Amer GhalibIn Hamtramck, Amer Ghalib won his place as mayor, earning 68.2% of the votes against incumbent Karen Majewski. Ghalib made history as the first Muslim mayor. His election is also the first time in 100 years that Hamtramck — a Detroit suburb with the highest percentage of immigrants — elected someone that isn’t Catholic or Polish American.

He expressed his thanks via his campaign page on Facebook.

Khalil Refai, Amanda Jaczkowski and Adam Albarmaki — who are all Muslim — won three council seats, making it possible that the Hamtramck city council will be Muslim-dominated.

Bill Bazzi, of Dearborn Heights, was appointed mayor in Pictured: Bill BazziJanuary of this year after the previous mayor, Dan Paletko, passed away. On Tuesday, he was officially declared the city’s first Muslim mayor.

“I am honored and humbled to be elected by the people as Mayor of Dearborn Heights,” he wrote on Facebook. “I am overwhelmed by the outpour of support that I received from family, friends, amazing volunteers of all ages, and our residents at large! Our community will continue to rise together as we collectively propel our great City forward!”