A new exit poll conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) found Muslim voters overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates in last week’s elections, reflecting frustration with President Donald Trump’s policies. CAIR reported it interviewed 1,626 self-identified Muslim respondents and recorded strong turnout among that electorate.
The survey found particularly high support in New York, where 97 percent of Muslim voters backed democratic socialist mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. In Virginia, Democratic Muslim state senator Ghazala Hashmi received about 95 percent of the Muslim vote in her successful bid for lieutenant governor, the poll showed. More centrist Democrats also drew heavy backing from Muslim voters: Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey each received roughly 85 percent support, according to CAIR.
On ballot measures, California’s Proposition 50 — which approved a congressional map favorable to Democrats — picked up roughly 90 percent support from Muslim voters in the CAIR survey. The organization said the results demonstrate American Muslims “showing up, speaking out, and shaping the future of our democracy,” and highlighted high engagement across four states.
The November 4 elections, held a year before the 2026 midterms that will shape control of Congress, provided a boost for Democrats. CAIR also noted a rise in Islamophobic rhetoric during the New York race, particularly after President Trump endorsed former governor Andrew Cuomo; the group said Muslim voters are “rising up in the face of anti-Muslim bigotry” to build a better future for their communities.
CAIR suggested the results indicate Democrats are recapturing some Muslim support lost in last year’s presidential contest, when many Muslim voters abandoned the party over President Joe Biden’s firm backing of Israel amid the assault on Gaza. The group also recorded 76 Muslim candidates on recent ballots, 38 of whom won their races.
Local wins included Muslim mayors elected in parts of Michigan, with Hamtramck, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights among communities choosing Muslim leaders. Several Muslim candidates have set sights on higher office next year, including Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
