Last night, we elected some of the strongest champions for Palestinian rights that the US Congress has ever seen. These victories represent more than the extraordinary individuals who will soon take office. They are a testament to how profoundly Israel’s genocide in Gaza has transformed our political landscape, reshaped the national conversation, and galvanized a grassroots movement that refuses to accept the status quo. 

These wins belong to the people who organized, mobilized, and refused to back down, even in the face of relentless attacks and efforts to silence our movement.

This election cycle saw some of the most vicious Islamophobic, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian attacks directed at candidates across the country, regardless of whether they were Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, or Jewish. Rather than confronting this bigotry, too many Democratic leaders chose political expediency over principle. Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens’ decision to back Abdul El-Sayed’s openly racist opponent rather than stand behind a candidate facing relentless anti-Muslim attacks speaks to a much deeper failure of political leadership and requires serious consequences. From Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to this election cycle, the timing of establishment support has exposed a persistent divide between Dem voters and Democratic Party leadership. In several races, progressive candidates spent months building their own coalitions and challenging entrenched political interests before Democratic leaders supported them.

For years, we have challenged a political system in which wealthy donors and powerful lobbying groups, including AIPAC, wield enormous influence over elections and foreign policy. These victories offer evidence that candidates can compete against those interests anywhere across the U.S. without abandoning their positions on Palestinian rights, U.S. military intervention, etc. They also reflect demands for a government that answers to its constituents: one that prioritizes the American people and human rights, protects immigrants and civil liberties, respects political dissent, and subjects military spending and foreign assistance to meaningful scrutiny. The Democratic Party and its leadership must take those demands seriously, rather than assume voters will keep accepting the same policies and political compromises.

Thanks to your support, AJP Action played a greater role in this election cycle, helping elect several of our endorsed candidates to Congress, including Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Rep. Chris Rabb, and Dr. Adam Hamawy. We want to take a moment to celebrate the other tremendous pro-Palestine, anti-war wins we saw across the country, such as: 

• Aber Kawas (NY), who just became the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature; Ruwa Romman (GA), the first Palestinian American elected to office in Georgia and the first Muslim woman elected to the State House, now making history again by being elected to the Georgia State Senate; Melat Kiros (CO); Claire Valdez (NY); Donavan McKinney (MI); Frederick Douglas Haynes III (TX); amongst many others! 

The fight is only beginning; now we take it to the halls of Congress. Help AJP Action build on this historic moment and sustain the movement for Palestinian freedom. Onwards!