NEW REPORT: Punished for Participating – Islamophobia in U.S. Electoral Politics (Episode 69)

The Center for Security, Race and Rights at Rutgers University School of Law published a groundbreaking report on systemic discrimination and racialized backlash against Muslim American political candidates at the local, state, and federal levels. The report, titled " Punished for Participating: Islamophobia in U.S. Electoral Politics ," analyzes over thirty case studies from 2001 to 2026 to document how Muslim American candidates and elected officials face coordinated campaigns of hostility and exclusion as they participate in democratic elections. A record 255 Muslim Americans now hold elected office at the county, state, and national levels, including four serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, as the report documents, these democratic gains have been accompanied by escalating attacks in political advertisements, social media campaigns, and official statements. In this episode, Professors Sahar Aziz and Eric McDaniel address the four recurring manifestations of islamophobia in electoral politics highlighted in Punished for Participating : Conspiracy theories about Islamic invasion and Sharia law imposition, Gendered islamophobia, Political violence against Muslim candidates and elected officials, and False presumptions of antisemitism leveled against Muslim candidates. The discussion exposes the realities of Muslim Americans facing an alarming backlash for their participation in one of the most patriotic American acts—running for elected office in democratic elections. The rise of Islamophobic rhetoric against Muslim American candidates, coupled with policy platforms that scapegoat Muslim communities, demonstrates the serious threat Islamophobia poses to our society. Read the full report here . #Islamophobia #Elections #Democracy #Equality #Muslims #Islam Biography Eric McDaniel is a Professor in Department of Government and the co-director of the prelab. His research examines how the intersection of race and religion influence the American political landscape. His book, Politics in the Pews: The Political Mobilization of Black Churches , provides an explanation for why some Black churches choose to engage the political world while others do not. His most recent book, The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics , co-authored with Irfan Nooruddin and Allyson Shortle, explores the ramifications of Americans believing that their nation is God’s chosen nation. Focusing specifically on how this belief influences how Americans come to understand themselves and the nation’s place in the world, they demonstrate the pervasive power of American religious nationalism. Recommended Readings Punished for Participating: Islamophobia in U.S. Electoral Politics , Rutgers Law Center for Security, Race and Rights (2026) Sahar Aziz, The Racial Muslim: When Racism Quashes Religious Freedom (2021). Eric McDaniel, Irfan Nooruddin and Allyson Shortle, The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics (2022)