Guest Commentary written by Tahra Goraya
Tahra Goraya is the founder of Goraya Consulting and a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. She previously served as president and CEO of the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership.
Some elections carry weight far beyond the names on a ballot. The 2026 midterms were one of those moments — and for Muslims across California, the results offered something many of us have been waiting years to feel: a renewed sense of hope, belonging and faith in our place within the American story.
For too long, Muslim Americans have had to defend our patriotism, our faith and our right to simply belong. Our identities have been turned into political talking points, and many in our community have felt firsthand the sting of prejudice and suspicion. Despite that, we have never stopped showing up — as neighbors, teachers, business owners, public servants, parents and active citizens working to make our communities better.
Muslim Americans also play a significant role in powering California’s economy. We run businesses, create jobs, invest in our neighborhoods and work across nearly every industry, from healthcare and technology to manufacturing, education and hospitality. We are workers and employers, innovators and consumers, all contributing to the economic engine that keeps our state moving forward.
Our value as members of this society should never be reduced to economic output alone. But those contributions underscore a truth that should already be self-evident — American Muslims are woven into the fabric of this country in every meaningful way.
This election served as a reminder that democracy functions best when people take part in it, and when the leaders chosen to serve reflect the diversity of the people they represent. Voters made clear that what matters most are the issues touching daily life: affordability, housing, healthcare, education and economic opportunity. Fearmongering and attacks aimed at entire communities cannot replace leadership focused on solving real problems.
The results themselves marked history. Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan made him the first Muslim American elected to the United States Senate. Here in California, Xavier Becerra’s election as the state’s next governor adds yet another milestone to California’s long legacy of political diversity.
These achievements matter not because any single community should dominate our institutions, but because our democracy grows stronger when people from all backgrounds have a genuine voice in shaping it.
For young Muslims, this kind of representation speaks to something deeper — a sense of belonging and possibility. As the mother of two preteen daughters, I want them to grow up knowing they can be proudly Muslim and proudly American at the same time, without having to choose. I want them to understand that they can lead, serve their communities, shape public policy, build businesses and help define what comes next for this country. They don’t need anyone’s permission to belong. They already do.
Hate did not win this round.
That doesn’t mean Islamophobia or discrimination has vanished, or that the work of protecting civil rights is complete. It means fear failed to silence participation, community and hope. The work continues — holding leaders accountable, defending religious freedom, pushing back against discrimination, and building bridges across faiths and cultures.
I feel genuine optimism about what this moment represents, not just for California’s Muslim community, but for the country as a whole. I’m encouraged by a rising generation that is engaged, vocal and determined to demand better from its leaders.
American Muslims are not waiting on the sidelines hoping to be let into the American story. We are actively building its economy, strengthening its communities, and helping to write its next chapter. That is something worth recognizing — and celebrating.
Original source: CalMatters
