Record number of Muslims elected in US midterms: ‘We should lean into who we are’

Advocates cite desire to create social change' as candidates win seats at the national, state and local levels

As a woman, a millennial, a progressive - and a Muslim - Nabilah Islam faced long odds in her bid for elected office in Georgia. Two years ago, she ran for Congress but lost in the Democratic primary, despite a high-profile endorsement from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This year, she ran for state senate to represent parts of the Atlanta metro region and won.

People thought it was unthinkable that in the south, someone would vote for a woman with the last name Islam," she said. I'm like: they did. Fifty-three per cent of this district did."