(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 11/7/18) – The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), today recognized the historic string of victories by New Jersey Muslim candidates in Tuesday’s midterm general elections.

UPDATE: Additional electoral victories not listed below:

Alturrick Kenney, Essex County Surrogate

Siaka Sherif, Orange Board of Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Several NJ Muslims elected statewide to offices at local and county levels.

 

CAIR New Jersey congratulates community members on the following electoral victories:

Assad Akhtar, Passaic County Freeholder

Mohamed T. Khairullah, Mayor Prospect Park

Alaa Abdelaziz, Councilman, Paterson

Hazim Yassin, Councilman , Red Bank

Salim Patel, Councilman, City of Passaic

Mussab Ali, Jersey City Board of Education

Mariam F. Khan, Dennis Township Board of Education

Mohammad M. Ramadan, Passaic County Board of Education

Alaa Matari, Councilman, Prospect Park

Adam Chaabane, Woodland Park Board of Education

On election night, CAIR-NJ live tweeted reactions to  general election results. Follow CAIR-NJ’s Twitter feed at @CAIRNJ and Facebook feed at www.facebook.com/CAIRNewJersey and follow hashtags #MuslimsVote and #MyMuslimVote.  Many CAIR chapters have also posted reactions to local and national election results using their social media channels.

“We offer congratulations to the Muslim candidates of New Jersey, many of whom have run for public office for the first time,” said CAIR New Jersey Executive Director James Sues. “Their victories reflect the diversity and spirit of inclusiveness that characterize the state of New Jersey and the growing positive role of American Muslims in our society.”

Next week, CAIR and Jetpac will release a joint report surveying successful campaigns and organizing strategies employed by American Muslim candidates. Its findings include a trend that American Muslim candidates and campaigns prioritized broad social justice-oriented policies such as equitable housing, healthcare, and employment and did so by working across traditional political boundaries and through various levels of office.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.