Politics
Muslim Firsts in Politics & Government
From the first Muslim member of Congress in 2006 to historic milestones in state legislatures and international leadership, these political pioneers reshaped representation.
5 firsts documented
politics 2006 Who Was the First Muslim Elected to U.S. Congress? Keith Ellison Won Minnesota's 5th Congressional District and took his oath on a Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. politics 2018 Who Were the First Muslim Women Elected to U.S. Congress? Ilhan Omar & Rashida Tlaib Elected simultaneously in 2018, becoming the first Muslim women to serve in the United States Congress. politics 2016 Who Was the First Muslim Mayor of a Major Western Capital? Sadiq Khan Sadiq Khan won the London mayoral election in 2016, becoming the first Muslim to lead a major Western capital city. He has since won three consecutive terms. politics Not Yet Who Was the First Muslim Head of State in a Western Democracy? A Milestone Still Ahead No Muslim has served as president or prime minister of a major Western democracy. Here are the milestones reached so far. politics 1988 Who Was the First Woman Elected to Lead a Muslim-Majority Country? Benazir Bhutto Benazir Bhutto became the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country when she won the Pakistani premiership in 1988 at age 35.