History Made: American Voters Elect Two American Muslim Leaders to Top Offices
Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | November 4, 2025 — Today, Americans made history.
New York City voters have elected Zohran Mamdani as Mayor of the largest city in the United States, and one of the most influential metropolitan centers in the world. In Virginia, voters have elected Senator Ghazala Hashmi to serve as the Commonwealth’s Lieutenant Governor, the second-highest position in state government.
This is a historic night and a cultural milestone. Two American Muslims have now been entrusted with some of the most powerful offices in the country.
Both candidates endured unprecedented levels of Islamophobia. We have not seen this kind of rhetoric in electoral politics since the post-9/11 era. They answered fear with integrity, and voters responded with trust. Tonight shows that Islamophobia is not only morally bankrupt, but also an ineffective political strategy.
Earlier this week, MPAC joined with Christian and Jewish partners to publish an interfaith letter condemning Islamophobic campaign tactics and demanding a higher civic standard. These results are concrete evidence that voters are doing the same.
MPAC congratulates Mayor-elect Mamdani and Lt. Governor-elect Hashmi. We look forward to working with both administrations to advance a future rooted in justice, freedom, and human dignity.
