In 2024, Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate Seeks to Increase Diversity of IL State Legislature and Double the Muslim Caucus

January 18, 2024. Chicago, IL. Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate released endorsements for Primary Elections 2024, seeking to increase diversity in the Illinois State Legislature while also doubling the IL Muslim Caucus.

In 2022, Illinois elected the most diverse group of state legislators, including the first Latina Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. At the state level, we added Palestinian American Muslim Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Indian American Muslim Nabeela Syed, the first Vietnamese American Hoan Huynh, the first Indian American Catholic Kevin Olickal, and many others. The Coalition-Activate seeks to retain these extraordinary, elected officials and grow their numbers in 2024 with at least two more outstanding women; the first Syrian American Suzanne Akhras and the first Palestinian/Italian American Sonia Khalil.

Coalition-Activate endorses Suzanne Akhras. “As Executive Director of the Syrian Community Network, Suzanne is an activist that brings over 20 years of experience advocating for refugees, asylum-seekers as well as Americans of all backgrounds. “She will bring insights on the issues Illinois is grappling with that are critical to our state” stated Coalition-Activate Board Member Anthony Simpkins.

Coalition-Activate also endorses Sonia Khalil for State Representative of the District. “Sonia will be a dynamic addition to the diverse roster we are growing in Illinois. She is a strong leader with a heritage that is both Italian and Palestinian. We are excited about Sonia’s candidacy in this open seat” stated Coalition-Activate Board Member Dr. Dilara Sayeed.

The Coalition-Activate is working with partners and allies of all faiths, races, and backgrounds to effectively turnout the over 200,000 Muslim, Arab and diverse voters in Illinois, the state with the largest per capita Muslim population in the nation, as well as engage the hundreds of thousands of ally voters across the state.

Illinois Primary Elections are one of the earliest in the nation, on March 19, 2024. Coalition-Activate endorsements come with marketing and promotion, as well as phone banking, canvassing, and strategic support as capacity allows. To view all state-level endorsements, visit www.Coalition-Activate.org

Coalition-Activate will be releasing Congressional, County, and Judicial endorsements and recommendations in the weeks ahead.