WASHINGTON — The incoming Congress will include one Muslim senator and seven Muslim representatives, a total of eight members that roughly matches the estimated share of Muslims in the U.S. population, according to demographic data and election results from the 2026 midterms.
Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Democrat and physician, became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate after defeating Republican Mike Rogers. He joins a group of House members that includes returning lawmakers André Carson of Indiana, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Lateefah Simon of California, along with newly elected or returning members such as Adam Hamawy of New Jersey and others reported by groups including CAIR. Reports on election night and the following day commonly cited a total of eight incoming Muslim members of Congress.
Muslims account for an estimated 1.1% to 1.6% of the U.S. population, or roughly 3.5 million to 5.5 million people, according to Pew Research Center figures. Pew’s more recent estimates place the total near 5.5 million of all ages. With 535 voting members in Congress, a 1.5% share would equal about eight seats. The current total therefore sits close to proportional representation based on population size.
This marks a clear increase from the prior Congress, which had four Muslim House members and none in the Senate. All current and incoming Muslim members identified in reporting are Democrats. Representation is not determined by proportional allocation of seats by religion; it results from district-based elections, primaries, and voter preferences. Demographic estimates also include children, while congressional seats reflect adult voting patterns and other factors.
The outcome has drawn attention from both supporters who view it as a milestone in political participation and observers noting the numbers track overall population trends rather than showing major over- or under-representation.
