Many considered the victory of Ilham Omar and Rashida Tlaib as a radical change in American politics while others saw it as a slap in the face of President Trump and the plans for settlement and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Others saw a liberal awakening that reflects the true American values.
Much has been said by some political analysts in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
However, the truth is that the American political scene is more complex than they think.
Many have advised against betting too much on two Muslim Congress members and overlooking the positions that got them elected. It would be unthinkable to assume that American voters would vote for someone who undertakes the elimination of Israel for example.
Rashida is a Palestinian-born American and Ilham is of Somali origins. They won in Michigan and Minnesota and became the first Arab Muslims to win two seats in the US House of Representatives.
The good news is that the two politicians did not break out with their roots. They presented a wonderful model for Muslim women in a pluralistic society, while keeping their commitment to their respective constituents.
Many in the Arab world got excited to see the two politicians in Congress, at a time where Arab politics is not at its best. Clinging to any hope in potential defenders of the interests of Arab countries has prevailed in their media, which can be normal for the social media. But to see self-proclaimed experts in international relations claim that, that would be misleading to the public opinion.
These experts would be either clueless about US politics or want to deceive and manipulate the masses.
Their winning reminds the world of the American values and constitutional foundations that have been demeaned in recent years. But let’s remember that foreign policy issues were completely absent from Congress elections. Voters care more for domestic politics.
Electing Rashida and Ilham was a big victory for American women in the midterm elections. An unprecedented number of women won the elections, including 29-year-old Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who sparked controversy when she announced after winning that she could not afford to rent a home in Washington, DC. The New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent describes herself as a working-class social activist who worked in restaurants, until early 2018, to increase her income.
