CHICAGO: Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate hosted post election gratitude brunch for over 100 candidates and the winner of the municipal election 2025 at Al-Bawadi Grill in Bridgeview.
The event brought together endorsed candidates, elected and appointed officials, and leaders from local coalitions and organizations involved in civic advocacy and ballot initiatives across Illinois.
The participants of the event included candidates that were endorsed by Coalition-Activate or partnering organizations, elected or appointed officials, and respective board members and organizational leaders of local coalitions involved in civic advocacy and ballot initiatives across Illinois.
“Over 75 Muslim candidates stepped up across Illinois in 2025 to represent diverse residents of all backgrounds. This is historic. At a time when Americans are being politically divided, our communities and our allies are coming together to identify issues, create solutions, and move our cities, states, and nation forward – together,” said Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate Board Member Dr. Dilara Sayeed.
The nonpartisan and not-for-profit event honored and recognized over 100 candidates, elected officials, and appointed officials that are Muslims or allied with Muslim communities across Illinois. It highlighted the collective civic strength of Muslims and allies across the state.
Th event showed the strength of voters that helped push over 65 Coalition-Activate endorsed candidates to run for office in respective IL election day races on April 1 – including newly-elected Naperville City Councilmember Ashfaq Syed.
“I am committed to honoring the trust you’ve placed in me by diligently working to fulfill our campaign promises. This includes focusing on key issues that are vital to our community’s growth and well-being,” Syed said in a statement following his win.
The most concentrated success for underrepresented communities on April 1 was most notable in Greater Chicago in which 26 Coalition-Activate endorsed candidates were elected to office in contested elections. Those efforts reflect a shift in Illinois’ complex civic landscape.
Coalition-Activate endorsed candidate Lena Matariyeh, a first-time candidate vying for an Orland Township Trustee seat, headlined one of those contested races by yielding 8,530 votes. She garnered the most votes among all 12 candidates.
“Campaigns don’t traditionally focus on communities that don’t historically vote. I have been involved in election cycles for years, and I have never seen anything like what we accomplished here,” said Yusuf Vidal, Political Director of the All United PAC.
“This cycle, we proved that when we come together, when we organize, when we mobilize – we win.”
Candidates, leaders, and voters from over a dozen counties were mobilized by Coalition-Activate and partners across the state.
Organizations that collaborated with Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate for the event include the Arab American Democracy Coalition (AADC), All United PAC, CAIR-Action Illinois, Northern Illinois American Muslim Alliance (NIAMA), Illinois Muslim Action Network (ILMAN), American Middle East Voters Alliance (AMVOTE), and Arab Americans 4ward (AA4ward) and others.
