SMFNews: Two Muslim Women Make North Carolina History

Two Muslim women won local seats in North Carolina’s Nov. 3 elections, taking office pathways that civic advocates say are firsts for Muslim representation in their roles.

CAIR’s North Carolina office congratulated Sana Siddiqui, who won one of two at-large seats on the Raleigh City Council, and Samira Khan, who won a seat on the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education. In a Nov. 4 statement, CAIR-NC Regional Community Engagement Manager Al Rieder called Siddiqui’s win the election of “the first Muslim city council member in North Carolina history,” and said Khan’s victory makes her, “to the best of our knowledge, the first elected Muslim to a school board in North Carolina’s history as well.”

Sana Siddiqui wins Raleigh City Council at-large seat

In Raleigh’s nonpartisan at-large City Council race, four candidates competed for two seats. With all precincts reporting, Axios Raleigh reported that incumbent Stormie Forte finished first with 37% of the vote, and newcomer Sana Siddiqui finished second with almost 33%, securing the other seat. Clark Rinehart received 15% and Joshua Bradley 14%.

The News & Observer similarly reported Forte at 37% and Siddiqui at 32%, and noted that the at-large candidate with the highest vote total will serve a four-year term under Raleigh’s new staggered-term system, while the second-place at-large winner will serve a two-year term before the seat shifts to four-year cycles.

Sana Siddiqui, Raleigh City Council member-elect. Photo: Campaign of Sana Siddiqui / sana4raleigh.com

Siddiqui is an NC State University graduate in biological and agricultural engineering, a small-business entrepreneur, and the founder of Get 2 Know Raleigh, a community media and events platform. She has served on Raleigh’s Human Relations Commission and Environmental Advisory Board, according to her campaign biography and NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Speaking on election night, Siddiqui told the News & Observer she would prioritize aiding small businesses, promoting smart growth and better engaging the community. She also said she would likely be the council’s first Muslim member, first naturalized citizen and first person of South Asian descent — framing those “likely” firsts as her own assessment rather than a formally verified statewide claim.

WUNC reported that Siddiqui’s platform centered on backing small businesses, prioritizing growth planning and supporting city staff, and that she fills an open at-large seat after former council member Jonathan Lambert-Melton did not seek reelection.

Samira Khan wins Alamance-Burlington school board seat

In Alamance County’s nonpartisan race for three seats on the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education, The Times-News reported that Stephanie Long Enoch led with 29,281 votes, followed by Samira Khan with 25,756 and Kyle Ward with 24,238, with all 39 precincts reporting. Elon News Network put those shares at about 18.28%, 16.08% and 15.14%, respectively.

Samira Khan, Alamance-Burlington Board of Education member-elect. Photo: Campaign of Samira Khan / votesamirakhan.com

According to her campaign site, Khan is a Burlington resident, an educator who previously taught at Guilford Technical Community College and Alamance Community College, and holds a doctorate in educational leadership from High Point University. She describes herself as an immigrant and English language learner and a mother of three, and lists priorities that include safe and supportive schools, supporting teachers, and planning for growing school enrollment.

In an interview with Elon News Network after the results, Khan said she was surprised and grateful that voters trusted her.

— Samira Khan, Alamance-Burlington Board of Education member-elect, November 2026

“So to the Alamance community, they trusted me, volunteered their time, effort and their money,” Khan also told Elon News Network. “I want them to know that I will not let them down, and I will be present, and I will do everything in my power to help them out.”

Other Muslim wins noted by CAIR-NC

CAIR-NC’s Nov. 4 statement also congratulated State Senator-elect Haseeb Fatmi, State Senator-elect Mujtaba Mohammed, and District Court Judges-elect Rashad Hauter and Sam Hamadani for wins or uncontested reelections elsewhere in North Carolina. Those races are separate from the Raleigh and Alamance-Burlington local contests highlighted here.

Why it matters

Local offices shape schools, neighborhoods and city services. Siddiqui’s Raleigh council seat and Khan’s school-board seat — nonpartisan races decided on Nov. 3 — expand Muslim civic participation at the municipal and school-system level in North Carolina, according to the candidates’ own accounts and CAIR-NC’s attributed “firsts” claims. Wake County election officials told the News & Observer they expect to certify results on Nov. 13 after processing provisional and remaining absentee ballots.

Sources: News & Observer; WUNC; Axios Raleigh; CAIR-NC; Elon News Network; The Times-News; Sana Siddiqui campaign; Samira Khan campaign; NC State CALS.

SMFNews: Amir Makled Wins U-M Regents Seat, Becoming Board’s First Muslim

MICHIGAN | November 4, 2026

Dearborn civil rights attorney Amir Makled has won a seat on the University of Michigan Board of Regents, joining incumbent Democrat Paul Brown in securing the two seats contested in Michigan’s November 3 election.

WEMU reported Wednesday that Makled and Brown defeated Republican candidates Michael Schostak and Lena Epstein. Citing Associated Press vote tallies, the station reported Brown at 27.2 percent and Makled at 25.5 percent. Those figures are preliminary returns, rather than certified final results.

A first for Muslim representation

Makled’s election makes him the board’s first Muslim member, according to reporting on his historic candidacy. In a March interview, The Arab American News described the Lebanese American lawyer’s bid to become the first Arab and Muslim American to serve on the university’s governing board.

Makled told the publication that representation must be accompanied by influence over decisions affecting students, employees and patients. The board sets tuition, approves major contracts, appoints executive leadership and oversees Michigan Medicine, the university’s healthcare system.

From civil rights advocacy to university governance

Makled is managing partner at Hall Makled, a Dearborn law firm whose practice includes civil rights litigation, personal injury and criminal defense. His professional biography says he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Michigan–Dearborn in 2009 and a law degree from Wayne State University in 2012.

His representation of pro-Palestinian students helped shape his campaign. In the March interview, he argued that winning legal cases could not by itself resolve disputes over university policies and student discipline. He presented a regents seat as a way to take part in the decisions behind those policies.

Affordability, free expression and accountability

Makled’s campaign called for broader access to the university, more affordable attendance and stronger protections for academic freedom. His campaign website emphasizes equitable resources across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, transparent governance and fair treatment of faculty, staff and healthcare workers.

In its October candidate interviews, Michigan Public reported that Makled supported a broad tuition freeze and reducing students’ costs beyond tuition. It also reported that both Democratic candidates wanted increased funding for the Dearborn and Flint campuses.

Makled emerged as the Democratic nominee after defeating incumbent Regent Jordan Acker in the party’s nominating contest. Brown, who was seeking reelection, retained his nomination.

What the regents oversee

Michigan voters elect university regents statewide. Members serve eight-year terms, with two seats contested at a time in staggered election cycles, Michigan Public reported. Voters may choose up to two candidates, including candidates from different parties.

The result places Makled on a board confronting continuing debates about the cost of higher education, free speech and university accountability. His election also brings Muslim representation to an institution whose policies affect communities across Michigan.

SMFNews: Shia Muslim American Official Assad Turfe Reportedly Tapped to Lead Michigan Governor-Elect's Transition

DETROIT, MICHIGAN — Assad I. Turfe, a Lebanese American public official serving as deputy Wayne County executive, has reportedly been selected to lead the transition for Michigan Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson following the November 3 gubernatorial election.

The Shia Muslim Foundation learned of the reported appointment through a Michigan community source on November 4. Benson, Michigan's secretary of state, won the November 3 election to succeed term-limited Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She defeated Republican John James. The Democratic Governors Association confirmed Benson's victory on November 4.

A Career in Wayne County Government

Turfe has served in Wayne County government for more than two decades. He began in the Sheriff's Office in 2002, advanced through the ranks, and later joined the office of County Executive Warren C. Evans.

In August 2022, Wayne County announced his promotion from chief of staff to deputy county executive. His work in county administration has included government operations and regional public services.

Experience in Local Government Leadership

Turfe's long career in public administration would provide experience relevant to coordinating state government personnel, departments and incoming policy priorities if the reported appointment is confirmed.

He has also been involved in civic and community affairs across metropolitan Detroit, home to large Arab American and Shia Muslim communities.

Significance for Shia American Public Service

The reported selection would mark another example of Shia American participation in senior public administration. Michigan's Dearborn and Dearborn Heights communities have a long history of civic involvement by Arab American and Muslim residents.

Any formal transition leadership assignment would involve helping the incoming Benson administration prepare for the transfer of executive authority in January 2027. The precise duties of Turfe's reported role have not been officially confirmed.