Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate Mobilizes Thousands in GOTV Push During 2026 Illinois Primary Elections
Personal outreach to low-propensity voters drives community engagement amid a contentious primary season
Chicago, IL – April 13, 2026 – Muslim Civic Coalition-Activate congratulates its endorsed candidates who secured victories in the 2026 Illinois primary elections. Their success reflects the power of people-powered movements to advance justice through ethical policies that benefit communities across the state and strengthen civic participation for all.
Coalition-Activate proudly endorsed the following winners:
Delia Ramirez for IL-3 Congressional District
Paul Nolley for IL-16 Congressional District
Nabeela Syed for 26th State Senate District
Saba Haider for 84th State House District
Miguel Alvelo Rivera for 40th State House District
The 2026 primary cycle presented both opportunity and challenge. With more open seats than Illinois has seen in over 70 years, the landscape offered new possibilities for representation alongside difficult decisions on resource allocation. The environment was highly contentious, with more than $50 million spent by right-wing, foreign, and corporate interests seeking to divide communities and distract from core issues. Amid these pressures, Coalition-Activate remained focused on confronting ideologies rooted in supremacy, including Zionism, Hindutva, and white supremacy, while building unity through shared purpose.
At the core of this work was a comprehensive Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign centered on education, faith-driven action, and direct personal outreach. Through targeted door-knocking and phone banking, Coalition-Activate reached nearly 5,000 voters, many of whom were low-propensity voters who participate infrequently in elections. These individuals, often from communities historically cut out of the political process, require multiple personal touchpoints to overcome barriers, including logistical challenges, distrust in institutions, and feelings of disenfranchisement.
These trust-based touchpoints build relationships, address specific concerns, reduce friction in the voting process, and will help in forming lasting civic habits.
“Our efforts focused on those who have historically been sidelined in the political conversation,” said organizing lead Rija Arshad. “By building connections rooted in trust, personal outreach turned potential non-voters into active participants, demonstrating that when communities organize with purpose, they can wield real civic power.”
As a result, more Muslims knew about the primary, registered to vote, and had a clear plan for casting their ballots.
Get involved today: Learn more about upcoming initiatives, volunteer for phone banking or canvassing ahead of the November election, or support Coalition-Activate’s mission on our socials here. Together, we build the civic strength that lasts beyond any single election.