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List of Muslim members of the United States Congress

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of Muslim members of the United States Congress.

As of 2023, only four Muslim Americans have ever been elected to Congress, the first being Keith Ellison in 2006.[1] Three Muslims currently serve in Congress, all in the House of Representatives. All four are Democrats.

Senate

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No Muslim has ever served in the United States Senate. In 2022, Mehmet Oz became the Republican nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania, making him the first Muslim to be nominated by a major party for the U.S. Senate.[2][3] Oz lost the general election to Pennsylvania lieutenant governor John Fetterman.

House of Representatives

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In addition to the representatives below, former representative Hansen Clarke (D) of Michigan, was raised in a Muslim family but converted to Catholicism.

Representative Party District Term Notes
Start End Length of
service (days)
Keith Ellison Democratic MN-05 January 3, 2007 January 3, 2019 4,383
(12 years, 0 days)
First Muslim in Congress. Converted to Islam in 1982. Retired to run successfully for Minnesota Attorney General.[1]
André Carson Democratic IN-07 March 11, 2008 Incumbent 5,989
(16 years, 145 days)
Raised Baptist, converted to Islam as a teenager.[4]
Ilhan Omar Democratic MN-05 January 3, 2019 Incumbent 2,039
(5 years, 213 days)
First of two Muslim women in Congress. First Muslim to succeed another Muslim. Born to a Muslim family in Somalia and immigrated as a refugee to the United States in 1995.[5]
Rashida Tlaib Democratic MI-13 January 3, 2019 Incumbent 2,039
(5 years, 213 days)
First of two Muslim women in Congress. Born to a Muslim family of Palestinian immigrants.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lohn, Martiga (September 14, 2006). "Islamic Convert Wins House Nomination". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. ^ Hammond, Joseph (December 2, 2021). "Celebrity surgeon Dr. Oz seeks to be first Muslim elected to the US Senate". Religion News.
  3. ^ Gabriel, Trip (June 3, 2022). "David McCormick Concedes to Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania GOP Senate Primary". The New York Times.
  4. ^ Garsd, Jasmine (January 13, 2013). "Rep. André Carson To Become First Muslim On House Committee On Intelligence". NPR.
  5. ^ Golden, Erin (November 7, 2018). "Ilhan Omar makes history, becoming first Somali-American elected to U.S. House". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minn. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019.
  6. ^ Herndon, Astead W. (August 8, 2018). "Rashida Tlaib, With Primary Win, Is Poised to Become First Muslim Woman in Congress". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2018.