The Stream

Will Muslim American political candidates make mid-term history?

The Stream speaks with a few of the many Muslim Americans running for political office this year.

A growing number of Muslim Americans have hit the campaign trail ahead of mid-term elections in November – and some are making history in the process. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is on track to become the first Muslim woman in the US Congress. In addition, congressional candidates Deedra Abboud and Tahirah Amatul-Wadud hope their experience as activists will not only challenge negative perceptions about Muslim American communities but change the political “status quo.”

“I’ve always navigated in spaces where I’m the only person like me and that a lot of the spaces I’m in are predominantly white”, says Amatul-Wadud, a Massachusetts attorney who’s running for a seat in the House of Representatives. “And I explain that there’s a universality to my story, and my message and my platform that allows people to appreciate me beyond my race.”

In this episode, Tahirah Amatul-Wadud joins The Stream alongside Rashida Tlaib and Deedra Abboud to explain the challenges they’ve encountered as Muslim Americans while making their bids for public office.

Join us on Monday at 19:30 GMT.

 

On this episode of the The Stream, we speak with:

 

Hoda Hawa @HodaHawa
Director of Policy and Advocacy, Muslim Public Affairs Council

 

Rashida Tlaib @RashidaTlaib
Democratic candidate, US Congress, Michigan 

 

Deedra Abboud @deedra2018 
Democratic candidate, US Senate, Arizona

 

Tahirah Amatul-Wadud @TahirahCongress
Democratic candidate, US Congress, Massachusetts

 

Read more:
A ‘Muslim Wave’ Of Candidates In Michigan – NPR
With hope and a hijab, Tahirah Amatul-Wadud aims to catch anti-incumbent wave in Western Mass. – Boston Globe
Muslim candidate Deedra Abboud drew hate a year ago. Now, can she draw Democrats? – Arizona Republic

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