Which Muslim members serve in the U.S. Congress and what districts or states do they represent?
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Executive summary
As of the start of the 119th Congress (January 2025), four members of the U.S. House of Representatives identify as Muslim: André Carson (Indiana’s 7th), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota’s 5th), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan’s 12th — elected from the 13th previously but listed as the 12th in recent sources), and Lateefah Simon (California’s 12th) [1] [2] [3] [4]. Multiple reporting and advocacy groups frame Simon’s 2024 victory as the expansion that brought Muslim representation from three to four in the House for the 119th Congress [2] [3] [4].
1. Who they are and the districts they represent — the short list
Three long‑standing Muslim members were reelected in 2024: André Carson of Indiana (7th District), Ilhan Omar of Minnesota (5th District) and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan (listed in reporting as representing Michigan’s 12th District in recent coverage) [1] [5]. The 2024 election added Lateefah Simon, a Democrat from California who won what outlets and advocacy groups report as California’s 12th District, making her the first Muslim elected to Congress from California and bringing the total to four in the 119th Congress [2] [3] [4].
2. The trajectory: from one to four Muslim members in Congress
Keith Ellison was the first Muslim elected to Congress in 2006 — a historical milestone noted in compiled lists — and Muslim representation remained small but visible thereafter, with André Carson entering via special election in 2008 and Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib joining in 2018 as the first Muslim women in Congress [6] [7]. Reporting on the 2024/2025 cycle emphasizes a modest growth: from three Muslim House members in the 118th Congress to four in the 119th after Simon’s victory [8] [3] [4].
3. What sources agree on — and where they differ
Mainstream outlets and Muslim advocacy organizations converge on the names Carson, Omar and Tlaib as incumbents and on Simon as the newcomer in 2024/25 [1] [2] [3]. Pew’s religious‑composition reporting confirms one Muslim listed among freshmen for the 119th (Lateefah Simon) and earlier counted three Muslims in the 118th (Carson, Omar, Tlaib) [9] [8]. Some aggregated lists and encyclopedias track totals differently over time and note district renumbering or redistricting effects; those details can produce apparent discrepancies about which numerical district (e.g., Tlaib listed as 12th vs. 13th in different sources) [6] [1].
4. Why the headcount matters — power, visibility and policy clout
Advocacy groups such as CAIR and other community outlets framed Simon’s election as an historic milestone and emphasized the practical effects: a stronger Muslim voice on committees and caucuses and more direct engagement on civil‑rights and foreign‑policy issues that matter to Muslim voters [2]. International and diaspora outlets noted the reelection of Carson, Omar and Tlaib as reinforcing established voices who shape debates on U.S. foreign policy and civil rights [1].
5. Limits of current reporting and what’s not said
Available sources do not mention any Muslim members in the U.S. Senate for the 119th Congress; reporting and lists focus exclusively on House membership [6] [4]. Sources also do not provide exhaustive biographical detail on each member’s religious practice or how publicly observant they are; the datasets cited treat “identifies as Muslim” as the operative category [9] [8]. Where district numbers shift between reports, that reflects redistricting and reporting conventions rather than contradiction; sources note redistricting effects but give different numeric labels in some summaries [6] [1].
6. Competing perspectives and hidden agendas to watch
Advocacy groups highlight symbolic gains and civic inclusion when reporting Muslim electoral wins (CAIR celebrated Simon’s victory as historic and consequential) [2]. International news outlets emphasize the foreign‑policy implications — particularly when members have been vocal on Israel/Palestine — which can amplify framing that centers those issues over others [1]. Compilations like Wikipedia or aggregated lists aim for completeness but can lag on district renumbering and may mix “raised in Muslim families” with current religious identification [6].
7. What to watch next
Follow updated religious‑composition studies (e.g., Pew) and official congressional directories for final, authoritative listings as the 119th Congress settles in; those sources will resolve redistricting numbering and any midterm changes [9] [8]. Expect community organizations to continue pushing for both symbolic representation and substantive committee placements, a dual agenda visible in CAIR’s response to Simon’s election [2].
Sources cited: reporting and compilations including DAWN [1], CAIR [2], Pew Research [9] [8], DAWN/other international outlets on Simon [3] [4], and summary lists [6].