On October 8, AMCF welcomed Dr. Saher Selod, Director of Research at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), for a webinar on the American Muslim Poll 2025, ISPU’s report titled Evolving Electorate, Enduring Challenges. With the November midterms only weeks away, Dr. Selod walked through how American Muslims voted in 2024, what they care about, and how their civic engagement is changing. The session included ASL interpretation by the Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community.
About the American Muslim Poll 2025
This is ISPU’s seventh American Muslim Poll. It was fielded by NORC at the University of Chicago, an independent, nonpartisan research organization, between April and May 2025, and it oversamples Muslims and Jews so their views can be compared reliably with Catholics, Protestants, white Evangelicals, the non-affiliated, and the general public. ISPU uses the findings to brief policymakers, and the data is widely cited in the media.
Who American Muslims Are
American Muslims are the most racially and ethnically diverse faith group in the country: 28% Asian, 24% white, 20% Black, and 12% Arab. They are also the youngest. About 26% of Muslims are ages 18 to 24, compared with 10% of the general public. And faith matters: 89% say religion is important in their daily lives.
How Muslims Voted in 2024
Muslim voter registration has climbed from 60% in 2016 to 85% in 2025, and Dr. Selod expects it to keep growing. Muslims were also the group most likely to report obstacles to voting in 2024 (37%, compared with 11% of the general public), including long lines and intimidation.
In the 2024 presidential race, 50% of Muslim voters chose Kamala Harris, 31% chose Donald Trump, and 12% chose Jill Stein. That surprised many observers, since pre-election polling had suggested a much larger third-party share. The data also shows real diversity of political views inside the community, including a wide gender gap: 42% of Muslim men voted for Trump, compared with 17% of Muslim women.
Policy Priorities
The economy and job creation topped the list for Muslim voters (41%), followed by the war in Gaza (35%) and healthcare. Only 5% of the general public ranked Gaza as a top issue. Notably, Gaza was a shared priority for Muslim voters regardless of which candidate they supported.
Civic Engagement Beyond the Ballot
Muslims are more likely than most groups to contact their elected officials. In 2025, 22% reported contacting a federal official, up from 17% in 2019, while the general public dropped from 31% to 17% over the same period.
Islamophobia and Discrimination
ISPU’s Islamophobia Index, which measures agreement with five negative stereotypes about Muslims on a 0 to 100 scale, rose among the general public from 25 in 2022 to 33 in 2025. Muslims remain the faith group most likely to report religious discrimination (63%), a rate that has held steady since ISPU began the poll in 2016.
From the Discussion
Dr. Selod pointed to a contradiction: anti-Muslim rhetoric is rising, and so is civic engagement, as targeted communities respond by registering voters and running for office.
One attendee asked about research connecting election seasons and anti-Muslim hate. Dr. Selod pointed to the Center for the Study of Organized Hate and noted that anti-Muslim rhetoric tends to spike during election cycles. Another attendee asked how organizations can support this kind of research. Dr. Selod’s answer was simple: if a legitimate research firm contacts you, take the survey. Rigorous data is what earns attention from policymakers and the media.
AMCF Director of Community Programs Lisa Kahler added that nonprofits can encourage civic participation without endorsing candidates, and invited organizations to share their general engagement resources with AMCF’s network. Executive Director Shazeen Mufti closed by reminding attendees that collective impact takes all of us working together.
Get Involved
Have data or civic engagement resources to share with the community? Email Lisa@amuslimcf.org.
Want donors to find your nonprofit? Join us for Grow Your Nonprofit’s Reach: An Introduction to the AMCF Nonprofit Directory on November 10 at 2:00 PM ET, or join the Nonprofit Directory today.
Read the full report at ISPU’s American Muslim Poll 2025 page.