Arabs in Congress... 'Marginal' or 'Influential'?

Early on, it was stated that Muslims and Arabs now carry significant weight in shaping U.S. foreign policy. However, their victory in the midterm congressional elections remains at its lowest level and has not yet qualified them to play an influential role.

Yet, there is another side to winning several seats in the Senate and House of Representatives: the American system has the capacity to generate ethnic groups among immigrants and integrate them into political life.

The “Abdul Sattar” phenomenon is not new, but its timing reflects an identity crisis driven by the racist right-wing current, which aligns with the orientations of Republican President Trump—an identity and trajectory dominated by the white element.

We are facing a political and social phenomenon that reflects a shift in the relationship between Arab immigrants and the United States, in the American society’s view of diversity, and in the ability of minorities to move from a position of being affected by policy to one of participating in its making.

We are talking about generations of Arab and Islamic descent born in America, educated in its schools and universities, speaking its language, holding its citizenship, and familiar with its institutions. These generations believe they have the right to participate in political life.

Today, there are approximately four million Americans of Arab descent, distributed across several states, with concentrations in Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and others.

Notably, this generation has fully engaged in political parties, electoral campaigns, civil institutions, and more, and has come to realize that the path to Congress must go through a system of community work and full integration into both official state and civil institutions.

“Abdul Sattar” is not the first. In 1958, according to available information, George Qasem was elected as the first American of Lebanese descent to the House of Representatives, and in 1972, James Abourezk reached the Senate.

The image of Arabs and Muslims in America has gone through very difficult stages, especially after the events of September 11, 2001. Nevertheless, we must understand that the American electoral system does not require candidates to come from political families or have old American roots.

After the announcement of the winners’ names, social media platforms filled with their photos, and the results turned into a kind of celebration among Egyptians, Lebanese, Palestinians, and Somalis. The boasting over the number of winners and those reaching the Senate became akin to a “trend,” transforming into a popular festival of pride in the heritage of these winners.

Regardless of the political affiliation of this American of Arab descent—Democrat or Republican—the outcome is that the American system provides institutional channels through which citizens of Arab descent can reach decision-making positions, despite the flaws inherent in the system, such as political money, lobbies, and pressures from interest groups controlling high-level political decisions.