Washington About to Elect First Two Muslim Women to Office

Two women are set to make history as the first Muslim women to be elected to office in Washington, Cross Cut reported.

FEED THE POOR

Feeding the poor and needy is an act that draws us closer to Allah. We earn His forgiveness, mercies and blessings through this act of charity.

“Anyone who looks after and works for a widow and a poor person is like a warrior fighting for Allah?s cause, or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all night. (Bukhari)

“This moment in time, the soil is fertile for diverse
candidates to come up.” Varisha Khan, who is currently leading the incumbent,
Hank Myers, by 47 votes for Position 1, said.

“This is the perfect place for me to give back and change
what city council looks like because right now City Hall does not match our
community.”

Khan would need to lead by 65 votes or more by Nov. 26, when
the votes are certified, to be out of recount range, said King County Elections
communications officer Halei Watkins.

If Khan wins, she will be one of the first two Muslim women
elected to office in Washington state after Zahra Roach clinched a seat on the
Pasco City Council.

According to a report on American Muslims in public office, from 2016 to
2019 approximately 138 Muslims have been elected to office nationwide.

Last year, US Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida
Tlaib of Michigan became the first Muslim women elected to Congress.

This year alone, at least 33 Muslim candidates won elections in local and statewide races across the country, said Jessica Schreindl, communications coordinator for CAIR-WA. 

Leading the Way

Khan graduated from the University of Washington in 2017
with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science.

If elected, she would also be the youngest member serving on
the Redmond City Council. 

When asked about her decision to run at such a young age,
Khan said she hoped to help start building a bench of diverse candidates to
serve locally and thought, “Why not here, why not now?”

While others warned her that Redmond was not ready for its
first female Muslim candidate, Khan said she “felt like this is the year that
we have a chance to really step up.”

Khan admits she also “knew it would be an uphill
battle.” 

“I knew it would be a challenge,” Khan said in a telephone interview while noting that her aim was to work three times harder than her opponent, who benefited from more name recognition.   

Another Muslim Winner

In Pasco, Roach said she wasn’t aware that a win would make
her one of the first Muslim women elected in Washington state. 

“I was completely surprised by it,” said the 37-year-old
Roach. “It was not on my radar.”  

Now that she’s been elected, Roach said she will focus on
issues surrounding growth and mobility. 

“While, yes, being the first Muslim woman is an honor,
there’s really big things at stake for everyone in the community,” Roach said.
“I’m committed to making my hometown and this area a better place.”

Leading American Muslim groups have celebrated the historic win of American Muslim candidates in November 5
elections after a total number of 34 were elected.

Winners in November 5 elections included Ghazala Hashmi
who was elected as the first Muslim-American Senator in Virginia.

Moreover, Safiya Khalid became the first Somali-American Muslim woman to win a seat on the Lewiston
City Council, Maine.

Nadia Mohamed also won a seat on the St. Louis Park City
Council in Minnesota.

Also, Democrat Abrar Omeish clinched one of three vacant
seats on the Fairfax County School Board.