First Arab Muslim Woman to Win Primary

by Aysha Qamar

Michigan makes the news with the results of their Primary Election.

Arab Muslim American, Rashida Tlaib, daughter of Palestinian immigrants, won the Michigan primary election with 33.2% votes making history as the first ever Arab American Muslim woman on track to potentially serve in the United States Congress.

Tlaib will likely be the first Muslim woman elected to Congress after winning her Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th District.

She is one of 90 American Muslims that are running or ran for office this year. Prior to this campaign, Tlaib became the first Muslim woman ever to serve in Michigan’s state legislature in 2008

“It’s not about just being out there and flaunting your faith,” Tlaib told CNN reporters. “I always tell people that I’m exposing Islam in such a pivotal way, an impactful way, through public service.”

The White House liaison to American Muslims under former President Barack Obama, Zaki Barzinji, referred Tlaib as the “perfect example of how to hustle and win the right way, not just for Muslims or Arabs, but for anyone.”

“She may be the first Muslim congresswoman, but she just opened the door for millions of Rashidas to follow. As a Muslim and Arab father of a 9-month-old baby girl, I’ve never felt more hopeful about my daughter’s future,” he said.

Tlaib upholds the Muslim community’s voice and activism.

Two years ago, she was arrested for disrupting a Trump speech in downtown Detroit, where she shouted at him that “our kids deserve better” and encouraged him to read the Constitution, according to CNN.

The general election primary for Michigan Tlaib won is for the full two-year term that begins next January.