Two of the seven candidates supported by the non-profit Project Mobilize won their races in municipal elections April 5. Project M views the election as an important first step to get the Muslim American community more involved in local politics.

When it started last year, the non-profit group Project Mobilize, or Project M, hoped to change the political landscape in suburban Chicago by promoting Muslim Americans as election candidates. So far, there are no Muslim Americans serving as elected officials in the Chicago area. But Project M hopes that will change in municipal elections April 5.

Across the country, dozens of Muslims have actively engaged in the American political process, running for — and winning — elected offices. In Chicago, Muslims have been active in voter registration for decades, but for the first time this year there is an organized effort to prepare and mobilize Muslims to run for political office.

By Kane Farabaugh, VOA News Much of the attention on Chicago’s local elections February 22 is focused on the race for mayor.  Former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel and former Senator Carol Moseley Braun lead a list of candidates seeking the office currently held by Mayor Richard Daley.  But in those same elections, [...]

Project Mobilize is committed to empowering the community through even greater involvement in the political framework. Over the past several weeks, local Muslim American community members have been working tirelessly to gather signatures, file petitions, and overcome objections in order to run for local elected offices in this April’s municipal elections. These are individuals with [...]