List of Muslim members of the United States Congress

This is a list of Muslim members of the United States Congress.

As of 2025, five Muslims have been elected to Congress, the first being Keith Ellison in 2006.[1] As of the 119th Congress, four Muslims currently serve in Congress, all in the House of Representatives, and all being members of the Democratic Party.[2]

Senate

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Further information: Religious affiliation in the United States Senate

No Muslim has ever served in the United States Senate. In 2022, Mehmet Oz became the Republican nominee for Senate in Pennsylvania, making him the first Muslim to be nominated by a major party for the U.S. Senate.[3][4] Oz lost the general election to Pennsylvania lieutenant governor John Fetterman.

House of Representatives

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Further information: Religious affiliation in the United States House of Representatives

In addition to the representatives below, former representative Hansen Clarke (D) of Michigan was raised in a Muslim family but converted to Catholicism. Current representatives Abraham Hamadeh (R) of Arizona, who identifies as religiously unaffiliated, and Yassamin Ansari (D) of Arizona, who identifies as an agnostic, were raised in Muslim families.[5]

Representative Party District Term Notes
Start End Length of
service
Keith Ellison Democratic MN-05 January 3, 2007 January 3, 2019 12 years, 0 days First Muslim in Congress. Converted to Islam in 1982. Retired to run successfully for Minnesota Attorney General.[1]
André Carson Democratic IN-07 March 11, 2008 Incumbent 17 years, 20 days Raised Baptist, converted to Islam as a teenager.[6]
Ilhan Omar Democratic MN-05 January 3, 2019 Incumbent 6 years, 87 days First of two Muslim women in Congress. First Muslim to succeed another Muslim. Born to a Muslim family in Somalia and immigrated as a refugee to the United States in 1995.[7]
Rashida Tlaib Democratic MI-13 January 3, 2019 Incumbent 6 years, 87 days First of two Muslim women in Congress. Born to a Muslim family of Palestinian immigrants.[8]
Lateefah Simon Democratic CA-12 January 3, 2025 Incumbent 87 days [9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lohn, Martiga (September 14, 2006). "Islamic Convert Wins House Nomination". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pew 119th was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Hammond, Joseph (December 2, 2021). "Celebrity surgeon Dr. Oz seeks to be first Muslim elected to the US Senate". Religion News.
  4. ^ Gabriel, Trip (June 3, 2022). "David McCormick Concedes to Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania GOP Senate Primary". The New York Times.
  5. ^ James, Frank (August 4, 2010). "Rep. Kilpatrick Vanquisher, Hansen Clarke, Has Some Story". NPR. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  6. ^ Garsd, Jasmine (January 13, 2013). "Rep. André Carson To Become First Muslim On House Committee On Intelligence". NPR.
  7. ^ Golden, Erin (November 7, 2018). "Ilhan Omar makes history, becoming first Somali-American elected to U.S. House". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minn. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Herndon, Astead W. (August 8, 2018). "Rashida Tlaib, With Primary Win, Is Poised to Become First Muslim Woman in Congress". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  9. ^ mushfiqahmad (November 7, 2024). "Muslims now have a fourth Congressperson elected". Muslim Network TV. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
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