In a united front, all four Muslim members of the Democratic House have condemned the "racist smears" targeting Zohran Mamdani, who recently clinched the Democratic primary for New York City Mayor. Representatives Andre Carson (Indiana), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), and Lateefah Simon (California) issued a joint statement vehemently criticizing the hostile remarks stemming from both sides of the political spectrum.

"The vile, anti-Muslim and racist smears from our colleagues on both sides of the aisle attacking Zohran Mamdani cannot be met with silence. These hateful, Islamophobic, and racist tropes have become so entrenched and normalized in our politics," the lawmakers expressed in their statement.

The Muslim lawmakers emphasized the perilous context of increasing violence against elected officials, declaring it imperative that the attacks on Mamdani be addressed promptly and decisively. They urged leaders across the political landscape to vocally denounce the aggression directed towards Mamdani.

Mamdani, poised to be New York's first Muslim mayor, has been the subject of severe criticism from several GOP lawmakers following his primary victory. Notably, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) controversially linked him to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, while Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) outrageously called for his deportation. The criticism isn't confined to the right; concerns were also raised by the left regarding comments from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) about Mamdani’s stance on Israel, which have since been clarified.

Additionally, Mamdani has faced allegations of antisemitism based on his comments about Israel, including his support for the phrase "globalize the intifada." He has consistently refuted these claims, asserting that his remarks were aimed at holding Israel accountable rather than being antisemitic.

The Muslim lawmakers have not only publicly defended Mamdani but have also taken their concerns to the Democratic leadership, seeking a more robust condemnation of the GOP’s attacks. However, when questioned about the remarks from Mace, Ogles, and others, Speaker Mike Johnson did not provide a comment.

This call for solidarity and the cessation of Islamophobic rhetoric marks a critical juncture as Mamdani steps closer to potentially making history as New York City’s mayor, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by Muslim politicians in the national spotlight.