CAIR Exit Poll Shows High Turnout for Muslim Voters in Midterm Elections

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released the results of a midterm election exit poll in states with high concentrations of American Muslim voters that shows an up to 76 percent turnout (Virginia) of those voters and indicating that overall, more than 70 percent of Muslim voters supported Democratic candidates.

CAIR's poll also indicated a modest positive shift in Muslim voter support for Republican candidates, reflecting that party's national gains.

"Muslim voters were energized and engaged, turning out at almost twice the average of all American voters in previous midterm elections," said CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw.

Compared to the 2012 elections, in which Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney received a single digit percentage of the Muslim vote, close to 20 or more percent (23 percent for Rick Scott in Florida) of Muslims elected Republican candidates for governor in yesterday's elections.

Republican gains are attributed to winning over traditionally independent or undecided Muslim voters. 

The CAIR exit poll of more than 3,000 registered Muslim voters in California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Virginia was conducted using an independent automated call survey provider and asked two questions:

* "Did you vote in today's election?"
* "Which candidate did you vote for (governor or senator)?"

Detailed Survey Results:

California

Question: Did you vote in today's election?       

Yes 72%
No 28%

Question: Which candidate did you vote for?

Jerry Brown (D) 76%
Neel Kashkari (R) 22%
Luis Rodriguez (G) 1%
Cindy Sheehan (P&F) 1%

Florida

Question: Did you vote in today's election?   

Yes 74%
No 26%

Question: Which candidate did you vote for?

Charlie Crist (D) 71%
Rick Scott (R) 23%
Farid Khavari (I) 2%
Adrian Wyllie (L) 1%
Glenn Burkett (I) 1%
Other 2%

Illinois

Question: Did you vote in today's election?   

Yes 74%
No 26%

Question: Which candidate did you vote for?

Pat Quinn (D) 77%
Bruce Rauner (R) 20%
Chad Grimm (L) 2%
Other 1%

New York

Question: Did you vote in today's election?

Yes 59%
No 41%

Question: Which candidate did you vote for?

Andrew Cuomo (D) 72%
Rob Astorino (R) 19%
Howie Hawkins (G) 5%
Other 4%

Texas

Question: Did you vote in today's election?  

Yes 68%
No 32%

Question: Which candidate did you vote for?

Wendy Davis (D) 76%
Greg Abbott (R) 20%
Debra Medina (I) 2%
Brandon Parmer (G) 1%
Kathie Glass (L) 1%
Other 1%

Virginia

Question: Did you vote in today's election? 

Yes 76%
No 24%

Question: Which candidate did you vote for?

Mark Warner (D) 79%
Ed Gillespie (R) 17%
Robert Sarvis (L) 3%
Other 2%

These results support the findings of a pre-election CAIR survey indicating that 69 percent of registered Muslim voters would go to the polls on November 4 and that more than half would vote for Democratic Party candidates.

Domestic issues like the economy and health care topped the Muslim voters' list of priority concerns in the election. Growing Islamophobia in America ranked as the third most important issue for Muslim voters.

SEE: CAIR Releases Results of Muslim Voter Survey in 6 States
http://tinyurl.com/q58xbgo

For additional American Muslim election analysis, contact: CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw, 202-999-8292, [email protected].

Over the weekend, CAIR also mobilized Muslim voters through a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) call campaign contacting 102,452 Muslim households, with 54,914 live answers and 47,538 messages left on answering machines. The calls were recorded by regional Muslim leaders in California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Virginia.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw, 202-999-8292, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations