American politics have always reflected larger socio-political dynamics through the representation of religious and ethnic groupings. Muslim involvement in politics is still comparatively low, despite notable advancements made by the Jewish and Hindu populations. This gap is caused by a number of important elements, such as public perception, political infrastructure, socioeconomic level, and historical engagement.

In recent presidential elections, Muslims especially Arab Americans broke with two decades of Democratic allegiance in a historic move, dividing the majority of their votes between President Donald Trump and third-party candidates. Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris to win a second term in the White House, mostly because of the exodus, which was stoked by resentment over the Biden administration's conduct of the conflict in Gaza.

Political integration and historical engagement

In the United States, Jewish Americans have been actively involved in public life for more than a century. Their political involvement was made possible by their active involvement in advocacy groups, labor unions, and the civil rights struggle. Numerous Jewish politicians gained early access to government through academic institutions, legal professions, and grassroots activity.

In a similar vein, Hindu Americans, who are mostly represented by Indian Americans, have incorporated politics by taking advantage of their high levels of economic and intellectual achievement. Strong networking, active community involvement, and calculated partnerships with established political structures have all contributed to the rise of well-known individuals like Kamala Harris and Ro Khanna.

In contrast, the history of political organizing among Muslims in America is quite recent, and many of them are immigrants or first-generation citizens. After 1965, a large number of Muslim communities arrived, initially emphasizing economic stability above political advocacy. It has been more challenging to achieve broad representation due to the absence of past political infrastructure.

Educational and socioeconomic inequalities

Economic standing and education are important factors in political success. The median household income and educational achievement of the Jewish and Hindu communities are among the highest in the United States. As a result, they have been able to establish networks, finance campaigns, and gain access to prestigious organizations that make it easier to enter politics.

The larger Muslim population includes African Americans, Arab Americans, and refugees from war-torn areas who frequently confront social and economic difficulties, even if many Muslim Americans, especially South Asians, have strong educational and economic accomplishments in common. It is more difficult to run for office, finance campaigns, and build powerful political networks when socioeconomic barriers are present.

Jewish, Hindu advocacy groups

Strong political infrastructure has been supplied by Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and other legal advocacy organizations. These groups develop future leaders, advocate for policy concerns, and make significant contributions to political campaigns. In a similar vein, groups that support candidates and advocate for policies, such as the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) have helped Hindu Americans.

In contrast, Muslim Americans are still in the early phases of developing comparable political structures. Although organizations like Emgage and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are attempting to mobilize, they do not have the same long-standing impact as their Jewish and Hindu counterparts. Furthermore, the Muslim community's internal diversity—which includes South Asians, Arabs, Africans, and converts—can occasionally make coordinated political action more difficult.

Public perception and Islamophobia

Public perception is arguably the biggest political obstacle Muslim Americans face. Islamophobia has fueled unfavorable preconceptions since 9/11, which has hindered Muslim candidates' ability to win widespread support. While religiously driven opposition is uncommon for Jewish and Hindu politicians, Muslim candidates frequently face allegations of being "anti-American" or "radical."

Political discourse and media representations have further distanced Muslims from popular political acceptability. In contrast to Jewish and Hindu politicians, Muslim politicians like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have experienced intense criticism and had their allegiance called into doubt.

Notwithstanding the difficulties, a number of Muslim business magnates and politicians—including Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Keith Ellison, André Carson, Shahid Khan, Hamdi Ulukaya, Farooq Kathwari, Ayman Asfari, and Ihsan Bagby—have become significant players in American politics and the economy.

Muslim representation increasing

Muslim political representation is increasing in spite of these obstacles. Organizations are gearing up to support the campaigns of Muslim Americans who are running for government. Future success will depend on boosting voter turnout, fostering local political leadership, and creating robust advocacy networks.

Building coalitions, removing structural obstacles, and putting in consistent effort are all necessary steps on the path to fair political representation. Like their Jewish and Hindu counterparts, Muslim Americans will probably become more influential as they continue to integrate into the democratic system.

The gap in political representation can be closed, guaranteeing a more inclusive American democracy, by tackling socio economic issues, bolstering political institutions, and battling Islamophobia.

(The author is a Virginia-based Pakistani American technologist pursuing his Ph.D. in artificial intelligence (AI). He is the founder and CEO of DeepTech Ventures. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at khurampk@gmail.com)