Election 2020: Battleground Congressional Districts-6

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah 

It is the last in the series on battleground Congressional Districts includes seven Districts. The 28 battlegrounds have substantial Muslim voters to make an impact. Effectiveness comes from their organization and participation, as their voting record varies between 40 to 65 percent. Muslim organizations do not make significant efforts to register, educate, and motivate Muslim voters in rural areas or smaller towns systematically.

Emgage emerged as a good organization, but its connections with the Zionists and Hindutvas raised many questions about its leadership.

Election is a science, and those who understand it are effective. Muslim political scientists well versed in the electoral process need to come to forward to strategize Muslim participation.

In the absence of a well-defined strategy, Muslim voters will stay as a marginal untapped voting force.

PA-10

Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District is in southern Pennsylvania and includes Cumberland, Dauphin, and York counties. The current representative is Scott Perry (R).

Its population is 734,849, with 49.0% Male, and 51.% Female. 79.1% are White, 11.6% Black, 8.4% Hispanic. The High school graduation rate is

91.0, and the College graduation rate is 32.7%

Scott Perry (Incumbent) (Republican Party) and the Eugene DePasquale (Democratic Party) are the candidates. In the last election, Scott Perry (R) got 51.3 or 149,365 votes, and his opponent, George Scott (D)

48.7 of 141,668 votes.

Muslim voters are scattered, but in a close election, every vote counts, and if mobilized, they can make a difference.

TX-21

Texas’ 21st Congressional District is in the central portion of the state. It includes Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, and Real counties and areas of Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis counties.[2]

Its population: 723,750, with 50.7% Female, 49.3% Male

85.3% are White, 3.4% Black, 2.7% Asian, and 27.7% Hispanic

The High school graduation rate is 91.7%, and the College graduation rate

is 43.6%

Chip Roy (Incumbent) (Republican Party), Wendy Davis (Democratic Party), Thomas Wakely (Green Party) and Arthur DiBianca (Libertarian Party)

Chip Roy (R) got 50.2 or 177,654 votes, while Joseph Kopser (D) got 47.6 or 168,421 votes. The third candidate, Lee Santos, got 2.1 or 7,542. The election will be very close, and every black, Asian and Muslim vote will count. But it all depends on the outreach of candidates.

OK-05

Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District is in the central portion of the state and part of the Oklahoma county.

Its population is 762,555 with 49% Male, 51% Female. 69.29% White, 13.66% Black, 4.72% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.71% Asian, and 14.88% Hispanic. Its High school graduation rate is 85.3%, and College graduation rate 29.0%

Kendra Horn (Incumbent) (Democratic Party), and Stephanie Bice (Republican Party) are the contestants. In 2018, Kendra Horn (D)

50.7% or 121,149 votes, and Steve Russell (R) got 49.3 or 117,811 votes.

Muslim voters are in small numbers, but in a race where the victory margin was less than 4,000, every vote will make a difference.

SC-01

South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District is in the southeastern portion of the state. It stretches along the eastern coast of South Carolina, from Hilton Head Island through Charleston County. It includes parts of Beaufort, Berkely, Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester counties. 75.2% White, 18.6% Black, 1.8% Asian, and 6.9% Hispanic

The High school graduation rate is 90.9%, and the College graduation rate 34.9%

Joe Cunningham (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) and Nancy Mace (Republican Party) are the candidates.

In the last election, Joe Cunningham (D), with 50.6 or 145,455 votes,

defeated Katie Arrington (R), who got 49.2 or 141,473 votes. Charleston has a substantial Muslim population. They can play a significant role in this tight race. But it all depends on how many of them are registered and how many would come out to vote.

VA-02

Virginia’s second Congressional District encompasses all of Accomack, Northampton, and York counties, all of the cities of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and parts of Norfolk and Hampton’s cities. In the November 6, 2018 election, Democrat Elaine Luria defeated Republican Scott Taylor. It is now one of Virginia’s most competitive congressional districts.

Its Population is 710,769, with 49.3% Male, 50.7% Female. 67.9% are White, 21.9% Black, 5% Asian, and 7.3% Hispanic.

Its High school graduation rate is 92%, and the College graduation rate

31.2%

Elaine Luria (Incumbent) (Democratic Party), Scott Taylor (Republican Party), and David Foster (Independent) are the candidates.

Elaine Luria (D) polled 51.1% or 139,571 and Scott Taylor (R)

got 48.8 or 133,458 votes

The District has a substantial Muslim population, and their votes will certainly count if they come out to vote. In the last election, they reportedly polled 45 percent.

VA-07

Virginia’s 7th Congressional District stretches from Richmond’s west end through Henrico and Chesterfield counties before taking in all of Goochland, Hanover, Louisa, New Kent, Orange, Culpeper, Page and Rappahannock counties and a portion of Spotsylvania County. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, first elected in 2018, represents it.

Its Population (2017) is 790,084, with 5.5% white; 18.4% black; 7.3% Hispanic; 5.1% Asian; and 0.3% Native American. The male-female ratio is almost equal.

Abigail Spanberger (Incumbent) (Democratic Party) and Nick Freitas (Republican Party) are the candidates. Abigail Spanberger (D) got 50. or 176,079, and David Brat (R) got 48.4 or 169,295. The third candidate, Joe Walton (L), got 1.2 or 4,216. The Muslim voters are scattered. Will they come out and vote.

UT-04

Utah’s 4th Congressional District is in central Utah. It includes portions of Juab, Salt Lake, Sanpete, and Utah counties.[2] The current representative of the 4th Congressional District is Ben McAdams (D). Its population is 702,782 with 50.3% Male, 49.7% Female. 86.8% White, 1.4% Black, 2.8% Asian, 1.4 Native Hawaiian, and 16.3% Hispanic. The High school graduation rate is 89.3%, and the College graduation rate is 27%

Ben McAdams (Incumbent) (Democratic Party), Burgess Owens (Republican Party), John Molnar (Libertarian Party), Jonia Broderick (United Utah Party), and Jonathan Peterson (Independent) (Write-in) are the candidates.

Ben McAdams (D), 50.1 or 134,964, defeated Mia Love (R) with 49.9 or 134,270 votes.

Muslim voters are substantial in Salt Lake City. In the last election, their votes were crucial for Ben Mcadams. Will they come out in large numbers in this election? The Republicans hope they don’t, and the Democrats pray they do.