This week's midterm election led to historic results in Ohio.
This election cycle saw Ohio Democrats win all but one of the statewide offices. Dr. Amy Acton won the governor's race, which had not been won by a Democrat in 20 years.
Turnout was greater than in 2022 and 2018 in Franklin County at more than 56%. In Ohio, turnout was 58%.
Across the country, a record number of Muslims, 97, were elected.
Khalid Turaani, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), spoke with WOSU's "All Things Considered" Host Debbie Holmes about his reaction to the results and to discuss how the Muslim community played a role in the Democrats' midterm victories.
Debbie Holmes: How are you today?
Khalid Turaani: I'm good. Thanks. Thanks for the opportunity to speak to you.
Debbie Holmes: Most of the unofficial results are in. What is your reaction to the strong outcome for Democrats in Ohio?
Khalid Turaani: Well, I think it was going to be obvious that the people of Ohio are going to vote against bigotry, against corruption, against hate speech and I definitely was not disappointed. I was glad to see that those who have used politics as a platform to spew hate and racism have lost. And people who are calling for inclusion and for human rights and for civil rights are winning and that is good news, not only for Ohio, but I also think for the rest of the country.
Debbie Holmes: Now, what was your biggest concern going into the election? In 2024, you led the Abandon Biden campaign, and it probably helped to turn some Muslims away from the Democratic Party.
Khalid Turaani: That was in light of the ongoing genocide, which unfortunately still is ongoing. It was not necessarily about the Democrats. Our concern was really with the leadership, the traditional leadership of the Democratic Party that was completely disconnected from the base. Unfortunately, that leadership is still disconnected from the base, and we saw how they were very reluctant to endorse, for example, Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. How the leadership like Cory Booker refusing to even mention Abdul's name and Chuck Schumer. I think it's time to chuck Chuck. Chuck Schumer initially, first of all, endorsing the loser and then refusing to endorse the winner until late in the game. Before that, of course, he refused to endorse (New York City Mayor Zohran) Mamdani, and even after he won the primary. So that leadership is still disconnected. And I believe this vote on Tuesday was not only a vote against Trump and the Republican extremist agenda, but also against the traditional leadership of the Democratic Party that is disconnected from its base.
Debbie Holmes: Did CAIR do any get-out-the-vote efforts or talk to the Muslim community about voting?
Khalid Turaani: Oh, absolutely. I mean, we used every platform to get out the voters who are Muslims and frankly, who are not Muslims. We believe in engagement and getting out the vote, you know, politics is a contact sport, and you've got to be out there, and you have to let your voice be heard. And we did do that throughout central and southern Ohio.
Debbie Holmes: What do you want Gov. Amy Acton and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, now going back to the Senate, to focus on and why?
Khalid Turaani: I believe they've got to focus on making sure that we bring down prices, that we bring down the inflation, that we tame this administration's appetite for going to wars and making sure that this is going to end. This is for Sherrod Brown, of course. And for the governor, I think leading with inclusion, including everyone under the tent. I think just put Ohio first, put America first, make sure that our tax dollars stay here, that we're not going to invest in the bonds of a foreign state that is committing genocide like the state of Israel, making sure that we take care of our own here and not allow this politics of pitting one group of Americans against another dominate.
Debbie Holmes: Did any results ignite any concern about how it will affect your community?
Khalid Turaani: You know, we're always thriving for something better. We're always striving to make sure that Americans who happen to be of the Muslim faith are not seen as anything other than Americans who happen be of Muslim faith.
