Message from CAIR

 The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and CAIR Action today released a nationwide exit survey showing that the genocide in Gaza, the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, economic pressures, and rising Islamophobia shaped American Muslim voters’ participation and choices in the November 3 midterm elections.

The 2026 Exit Survey of Muslim Voters, conducted by Community Pulse, operated by Molitico, presents weighted findings from 522 registered voters who self-identify as Muslim. The survey was conducted November 2–4, including early voters. These preliminary findings reflect responses received as of 9:42 a.m. ET on November 4.

READ THE FULL EXIT SURVEY REPORT: CLICK HERE

WATCH CAIR’S LIVESTREAM PRESS CONFERENCE RELEASE OF THE REPORT

Related CAIR election statements:

• Michigan: CAIR and CAIR-Michigan recognized Abdul El-Sayed’s historic election as the first Muslim U.S. senator.
• Texas: CAIR and CAIR-Texas welcomed the Hinojosa and Talarico victories as voters rejected the politics of hate.

In a joint statement, CAIR and CAIR Action said:

“Our exit poll of Muslim voters shows a clear pattern: Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, and economic pressures drove Muslim voters’ choices. Rising Islamophobia strengthened their motivation to vote. They overwhelmingly backed Democrats, but many remain unconvinced that either party listens to their concerns.

“Muslims, like our fellow Americans, are fed up with wars that destroy lives abroad while making it harder to feed our families at home. Congress has a mandate: lower costs, improve healthcare and education, protect civil rights, stop enabling Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, and stop allowing Israel to drag America into wars of aggression.

“During this election season, anti-Muslim extremists, Israel lobby groups, and even the President of the United States tried to turn Muslim candidates and Muslim voters into political boogeymen. Those smears failed to stop historic gains in American Muslim participation and representation. Investment in voter registration, education, and turnout helped our community turn anger into political power.

“We are tracking more than 160 American Muslim candidates who sought local, state, and federal office this election cycle. Based on preliminary public reporting, at least seven American Muslims have been elected to the next Congress, including our first Muslim U.S. senator, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Representatives-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier and Dr. Adam Hamawy. Congresswoman Aisha Wahab is leading her reelection race, which could bring the total to eight.

“We thank Muslim voters across the country for making their voices heard. Their participation is helping ensure that Muslims are no longer on the political menu, but at the political table. Now Congress must deliver.”

Key survey findings among Muslim respondents

• High participation among respondents: 93% reported having voted. Another 3% said, at the time they responded, that they still planned to vote. These figures describe survey respondents and are not an estimate of turnout among all registered Muslim voters.
• Strong Democratic support: Among respondents who voted, 80% said they primarily voted for Democrats, compared with 6% for Republicans, 5% for independent candidates, and 1% for third parties. Another 9% preferred not to say.
• Gaza was the most-cited issue: 76% named Gaza and Palestinian human rights among their most important issues, and 80% said the genocide in Gaza was a major influence on their vote.
• The U.S.-Israel war on Iran weighed heavily: 76% said the war was a major influence on their vote, 66% named it among their most important issues, and 72% said their vote sent a message to prevent a wider war in the Middle East.
• Economic pressures shaped choices: 80% said the economy was a major influence on their vote, 66% named the economy and inflation among their top issues, and 70% said their vote sent a message supporting lower costs and economic opportunity.
• Islamophobia motivated participation: 70% said rising Islamophobia motivated them to vote, including 55% who said it made them much more motivated. Combating Islamophobia was among the top issues for 47%.
• Party support did not mean full trust: 53% identified Democrats as more responsive to American Muslims’ concerns, compared with 4% who identified Republicans. One-third, 33%, said neither party was more responsive.

Respondents also emphasized civil rights and accountability: 69% said their vote sent a message to protect civil rights and religious freedom, and 66% sought to hold elected officials accountable. Just 16% selected support for their party’s agenda as a message behind their vote.

FOR MORE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RESOURCES: Visit Muslims.Vote for nonpartisan election information and voter-rights resources.

Methodology

Community Pulse conducted the survey November 2–4, 2026, using text-message invitations to registered voters identified as Muslim in the national voter file. Recruitment combined a stratified random sample with respondents to earlier CAIR surveys and members of the Community Pulse panel. Early voters were invited November 2; other voters were invited on Election Day.

The findings are based on 522 self-identified Muslim respondents, including partial responses. Muslim respondents were weighted separately to ISPU’s 2025 race and ethnicity estimates for American Muslims and to the voter-file profile of Muslim registered voters by age, gender, turnout history, region, and state. The pollster reports a margin of error of ±6.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, accounting for weighting.

The number answering each question varies. Issue-priority, influence, and voting-message questions included respondents who had voted or still planned to vote. Percentages are rounded, so totals may differ from 100% and combined figures may differ from sums of rounded components. Multiple-response questions may total more than 100%. Results are preliminary as of November 4 at 9:42 a.m. ET.

CAIR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not endorse or oppose candidates for office. CAIR Action is a separate 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that endorsed over 1,600 candidates in the 2026 General election. The survey findings describe respondents’ views and are not organizational endorsements.

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