Key findings show the majority of Md. Muslim voters prioritized foreign policy issues including Palestine at polls
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today announced that its online exit poll of 407 registered Muslim voters who participated in the state’s presidential primary election showed that 95.9 percent of Maryland Muslims who voted in the Democratic primary voted “uncommitted.”
SEE: CAIR Exit Poll – 2024 Maryland Primary Election
https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Exit-Poll.pdf
Only 1.5 percent of Muslim Democratic primary voters reported voting to renominate President Biden as the Democratic party’s presidential nominee.
The exit poll found that 82.4 percent of voters ranked foreign policy issues, including the crisis in Palestine, as their top priority when casting their ballots. Islamophobia, including hate bias incidents and bullying, was the second top priority issue for Muslim voters at the polls.
The poll found that the overwhelming majority of registered Muslim voters in the state, 91.9 percent, participated in the election. Nearly 90 percent of Democrat Muslim voters voted for Angela Alsobrooks for U.S. Senate. Approximately 83 percent of Republican Muslim voters cast their ballots for Larry Hogan for U.S. Senate.
Responding to the results, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“The findings of this exit poll show that the Maryland Muslim community is politically active and likely played a significant role in the outcome of the primary elections, including the over 50,000 uncommitted ballots in the Democratic presidential primary. We encourage all elected officials and political candidates to engage with American Muslim voters, who are largely united in their opposition to the Israeli government’s ongoing genocide in Gaza that has claimed the lives of over 43,000 civilians, mostly women and children. Muslim voters are conscious about both domestic issues and global crises, as well as our government’s role in fueling or addressing them. This demographic is becoming an increasingly influential voting block. We thank all those who took the time to respond to the poll and help provide valuable insights into their political views and priorities.”
SEE: 50,000 ‘uncommitted ‘ Maryland votes in protest of war in Gaza
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/video/50000-uncommitted-maryland-votes-in-protest-of-war-in-gaza
Key findings from the exit poll include:
Q1. As a Muslim voter registered in Maryland, did you vote in the state’s 2024 Primary Election?
Yes: 374 (91.9%)
No: 33 (8.1%)
Total Responses: 407
Q2. If you voted, what is your party affiliation?
Democrat: 343 (91.7%)
Unaffiliated: 19 (5.1%)
Republican: 12 (3.2%)
Total Responses: 374
Q3. If you are a registered Democrat, which presidential candidate did you vote for?
Uncommitted: 329 (95.9%)
None: 7 (2.0%)
Joseph Biden, Jr.: 5 (1.5%)
Marianne Williamson: 2 (0.6%)
Total Responses: 343
Q4. If you are a registered Republican, which presidential candidate did you vote for?
None: 5 (41.7%)
Donald Trump: 4 (33.3%)
Nikki Haley: 3 (25%)
Total Responses: 12
Q5. If you are registered as a Democrat, which candidate did you vote for U.S. Senator?
Angela Alsobrooks: 306 (89.2%)
David Trone: 15 (4.4%)
None of the above: 22 (6.4%)
Total Responses: 343
Q6. If you are registered as a Republican, which candidate did you vote for U.S. Senator?
Larry Hogan: 10 (83.3%)
Robin Ficker: 2 (16.7%)
Total Responses: 12
Q7. What is your top priority issue that you considered as you voted?
- Foreign Policy (Palestine, Uyghur, Kashmir, Sudan, Rohingya, etc.): 308 (82.4%)
- Islamophobia (hate bias incidents, bullying): 49 (13.1%)
- Economy: 5 (1.3%)
- Social Issues (Gun control, racial justice, women’s rights, immigration reform, criminal justice reform etc.): 10 (2.7%)
- Climate Change: 0 (0.0%)
- Affordable Healthcare: 2 (0.5%)
- Total Responses:374
Q8. Do you plan to vote in the presidential election this coming November?
Yes: 361(88.7%)
No: 5 (1.2%)
Unsure: 41 (10.1%)
Total Responses: 407
NOTE: As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose candidates for office, and makes no claims as to the favorability of one candidate being elected over another.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com