Afrasianet - Muslim figures recorded a remarkable presence in the 2026 US midterm elections, with 7 candidates winning seats in Congress, in a result that carried historic significance, most notably the arrival of the first Muslim in the US Senate, in addition to strengthening the presence of Arab Americans in the legislature.
The seven seats were distributed between the Senate and the House of Representatives, with one member in the first and six in the second, and the list included three Americans of Arab origin, Egyptian and Palestinian, while the backgrounds of the other members varied between Somali, African, and Dominican.
Abdul Al-Sayed. The first Muslim in the Senate
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan's Senate seat, is on the list after defeating Republican Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed is of Egyptian descent, works as a doctor and has previously held public health positions.
His victory marks a historic milestone as the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Adam Hamwy. Egyptian Physician to Congress
From New Jersey, Egyptian-American physician Adam Hamwi snatched a seat in the House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim to represent the state in Congress.
He previously worked as a military surgeon in the U.S. Army and volunteered to treat the wounded in Gaza in 2024.
Rashida Tlaib. Palestinian Voice
Rashida Tlaib, an American of Palestinian descent, retained her seat from Michigan to continue her fifth term in the House of Representatives, where she is considered one of the most prominent defenders of Palestinian rights in Congress.
Ilhan Omar. The refugee who arrived in Washington
From Minnesota, Ilhan Omar won a fifth term. She is a Somali-American who arrived in the United States as a refugee as a child, and in 2019 became the first Somali-American to enter Congress.
Andre Carson. Oldest Muslim Members
In Indiana, Andre Carson retained his seat, continuing a parliamentary career that began in 2008, to remain one of the oldest Muslim lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
Latifa Simon. From the Human Rights Struggle to Legislation
California voters have also renewed confidence in civil rights activist Latifa Simon, who entered Congress in 2025 and continues to be in the House of Representatives.
Darialisa Chevalier. From the University Protests to Congress
The list was completed by the victory of Darialisa Ávila Chevalier of New York, an American human rights activist of Dominican descent who converted to Islam.
She was able to defeat veteran Democratic Rep. Adriano Espayat, after her name rose to prominence in student movements and pro-Palestinian protests.
Among an Egyptian doctor, a Somali refugee, a Palestinian activist, and faces from multiple backgrounds, these results reflect the expanding presence of Muslims in U.S. politics and their representation in the Senate for the first time.
Seven seats are not just shortened by the numbers, they also reveal a diversity of origins, backgrounds and political experiences within one of the world's most important legislative institutions.
