* Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, seeks to make history as first Muslim US senator
* Hamawy becomes New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman as Omar, Tlaib and Carson re-elected
* “They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,” Trump warns incoming lawmakers
Muslim candidates have recorded significant victories in the 2026 United States midterm elections, with prominent Muslim lawmakers retaining their seats and new entrants making history ahead of the inauguration of the 120th US Congress in January 2027.
The victories came as the Democratic Party reclaimed control of both chambers of the US Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, in a major setback for President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.
Among the Muslim candidates who won their respective contests were Congresswomen Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, as well as Congressman André Carson of Indiana, who secured re-election to the House of Representatives.
Another significant victory was recorded by Dr Adam Hamawy, a former US Army combat surgeon, who defeated Republican Gregg Mele in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District to become the state’s first Muslim member of Congress.
The developments follow Muslim News Nigeria’s report on Tuesday, November 3, titled US Midterm Election: 51 Muslim candidates contest seats across 23 states amid rising Islamophobia, which highlighted the participation of Muslim Americans seeking elective positions across the country.
El-Sayed declares victory in historic Senate race
One of the most closely watched contests involved Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat who challenged Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open US Senate seat.
El-Sayed declared victory early Wednesday, November 4, describing himself as senator-elect and expressing gratitude to supporters.
“We did it,” he told supporters in Detroit, adding, “I am so proud and honoured to stand here as your senator-elect.”
If confirmed, his victory would make him the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, marking a historic milestone for Muslim political representation in the country.
However, the Associated Press had yet to officially call the race at the time of reporting, as votes were still being counted.
The contest attracted national attention partly because of attacks on El-Sayed’s Muslim identity during the campaign.
The Associated Press reported that Republicans repeatedly attempted to associate him with terrorism without evidence.
El-Sayed, a physician and former public health official, campaigned on issues including healthcare reform, economic fairness and US foreign policy.
The Michigan seat became vacant following the retirement of Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Omar, Tlaib and Carson retain seats
Meanwhile, three established Muslim lawmakers have secured fresh mandates to continue representing their constituents in the US House of Representatives.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar won a fifth term representing Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District after defeating Republican challenger John Nagel.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Omar’s victory extended her representation of the Minneapolis-based district, which she has served since 2019.
Similarly, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib secured re-election in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, according to Associated Press projections.
Tlaib, who entered Congress in 2019, is one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US House, alongside Omar.
In Indiana, Congressman André Carson also won re-election in the state’s Seventh Congressional District, retaining a seat he has held since 2008.
Carson is among the longest-serving Muslim lawmakers in the US Congress and has remained an important figure in the representation of Muslim Americans in national politics.
Hamawy makes history in New Jersey
Another notable development was the election of Dr Adam Hamawy, who defeated Republican Gregg Mele in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District.
According to the Associated Press and Anadolu Agency, his victory makes him the first Muslim elected to represent New Jersey in the US Congress.
Hamawy, 56, is a plastic surgeon, retired US Army combat doctor and humanitarian medical worker. Born in Egypt and raised in the United States, he served as a military surgeon during the Iraq War.
He later participated in humanitarian medical missions in countries including Bosnia, Sudan, Lebanon and Syria.
He also travelled to Gaza in 2024 on a medical mission to treat Palestinians affected by the Israeli military offensive.
His election will see him succeed retiring Democratic Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has represented the district for a decade.
Hamawy’s victory adds another Muslim voice to the House of Representatives and marks a historic breakthrough for Muslim representation in New Jersey’s federal politics.
After winning the Democratic primary, he told supporters: “We made it clear you never need to ask for permission to fight for justice.”
Democrats reclaim both chambers of Congress
Beyond the victories recorded by individual Muslim candidates, the midterm elections have reshaped the balance of political power in Washington.
According to projections by the Associated Press, Democrats won control of the Senate and House of Representatives, ending the Republican Party’s control of both chambers.
Democrats secured at least seven Senate pickups, including victories in traditionally Republican states such as Texas and Kansas, alongside gains in Iowa, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Trump vows to veto ‘insane’ bills from incoming US lawmakers
The outcome represents a major setback for Trump, whose Republican Party had controlled both chambers following the 2024 elections.
Reacting to the results, Trump acknowledged that Democrats had performed well, saying they “did a good job” and had “fought hard”.
He also indicated that he would work with the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress, although he warned that he would veto legislation he considered unacceptable.
“They’ll send over things that are insane, and I’ll veto them,” Trump said, according to Al Jazeera.
The new Congress is expected to begin its work in January 2027.
More Muslim candidates record victories
Beyond the high-profile congressional victories, other Muslim candidates also secured important electoral wins across the United States, further strengthening Muslim representation in American politics.
In New York, Aber Kawas, a Palestinian-American community organiser, won the election for New York State Senate District 12, becoming the first Palestinian Muslim woman elected to the New York State Legislature, according to reports.
Her campaign focused on housing and tenant protection, immigrant rights and Palestinian rights. She received endorsements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America.
In Georgia, Ruwa Romman, a Palestinian-American Democrat who made history in 2022 as the first Muslim woman and Palestinian-American elected to the state legislature, won the State Senate District 7 race. Preliminary results showed her securing 45,703 votes, representing 66 per cent, against Republican candidate Aizaz Shaikh, who polled 23,550 votes, or 34 per cent. The results were reported with all localities accounted for, although formal certification remained outstanding.
These victories add to the gains recorded at the federal level, including the election of Dr Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan’s open US Senate seat to become the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, and Dr Adam Hamawy, a former US Army combat surgeon who won New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, becoming the first Muslim elected to represent the state in the US Congress.
Aisha Wahab’s earlier victory
Meanwhile, Aisha Wahab, an Afghan-American politician, had already made history in August 2026 after winning a special election for California’s 14th Congressional District. She defeated Melissa Hernandez with 53.1 per cent of the vote against 46.9 per cent.
However, her victory came in the August special election to fill the seat’s vacancy and should not be counted as a fresh win in the November 3 midterm elections.
The victories come amid growing Muslim participation in American electoral politics. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced ahead of the elections that it had been tracking more than 160 American Muslim candidates seeking local, state and federal offices.
A comprehensive list of Muslim winners was still emerging as election results were being collated and certified.
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Assallamun Alaykum WaramatuLLAH Wabarakatu,
I want to say congratulations to our dear brothers and sisters who won their respective elections in the USA. May ALMIGHTY ALLAH continue to elevate them, be with them and give them the Iman and Amana to carry out their duties with the fear of ALLAH.
I also pray that ALLAH should grant the remaining ones victory in their elections, Aameen.
Once again, congratulations to you all.