Emgage Action is a left-of-center Muslim-American advocacy and voter mobilization group that functions as the voter mobilization and political advocacy arm of the Emgage Foundation. The network of Emgage groups also operates Emgage PAC, a political action committee that raises money for and endorses candidates for Congress and state legislative seats.

The organization supports a variety of left-of-center policies and politicians, with its main focus being on mobilizing Muslim-American voters to turn out in elections with an emphasis on swing states that are crucial for securing or maintaining Democratic control of Congress, state legislatures, and the White House. Emgage operates a variety of state-level local affiliates that conduct similar advocacy efforts at the state and local levels, including Emgage Florida, Emgage New York Metro, and the Illinois Muslim Civic Association. ^{1 2 3}

Background

Emgage Action is the “political wing” of the Emgage Foundation, founded in 2008 as Emgage USA, which was formed to aid Democratic candidates in state and federal elections through increasing Muslim-American voter turnout in swing states. In 2018, the Washington Post reported that Emgage Action was supporting “a raft of not just Muslim candidates but also non-Muslim candidates who share its views, such as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (D) in Florida.” Adding that “While the group is officially nonpartisan, its focus has shifted markedly to Democrats since [Donald] Trump became president.” ³

Earlier in the group’s existence, Emgage Action and its affiliated group endorsed some Republicans such as then-U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) in 2016 before shifting to support her Democratic opponent, Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), in 2018. ³

Emgage and its state affiliates, such as Emgage Virginia, stated an intention to increase Muslim voter mobilization efforts in several states in the 2020 election cycle, along with direct candidate support of both Muslim and non-Muslim candidates through Emgage PAC, which directly recruited Muslim candidates for state and federal office. During the 2020 election, the group had state directors in Florida, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Virginia to direct voter mobilization efforts. ^{4 1}

2020 Election

During the 2020 presidential election campaign Emgage Action hosted the “Million Muslim Votes Summit” an online event that featured then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden addressing the group “pledging Muslim representation in his administration and efforts to combat ‘an unconscionable rise in Islamophobia.’” ⁵

Emgage initially endorsed U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in the 2020 Democratic primaries and later endorsed Biden once he became the presumptive Democratic nominee. Emgage also organized a pro-Biden letter that was signed on to by several notable Muslim-American leaders including Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D). ⁵

At the time, Emgage Action CEO Wa’el Alzayat, who also leads the Emgage Foundation, told the Associated Press that “a lot is at stake” in the 2020 elections, further stating that “The importance of Muslim American voter participation this upcoming election cycle is greater than it has ever been […] Biden’s presence serves not only to galvanize Muslim Americans to cast their ballot,” but also “to usher in an era of engaging with Muslim American communities”  after the Trump administration. ⁵

Leadership

Wa’el Alzayat is the chief executive officer of the Emgage Foundation and Emgage Action. He served for ten years as a policy advisor in the U.S. Department of State, including as senior policy advisor to Obama administration U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power and as Syria Outreach Coordinator. He also served as a Provincial Affairs Officer for Anbar, Iraq at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad from 2007 to 2008. Alzayat is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. ⁶

Alzayat was among a group of Muslim leaders who met with President Joe Biden at the White House. The group told Biden that “his embrace of Israel after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks was seen by many as permission for Israel’s bombing in Gaza.” And that “the president’s statement casting doubt on the death toll among Palestinians was insulting.” The main purpose of the meeting was to get President Biden to pledge to support a ceasefire, which they failed to secure. ⁷

Alzayat stated that Biden was empathetic towards the group, stating that “He listened, he did show empathy and he promised to do better, particularly on humanizing Palestinians.” ⁷

1. “Chapters and Affiliates.” Emgage. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://emgageusa.org/chapters-and-affiliates/
2. “About Emgage.” Emgage, Accessed December 12, 2023. https://emgageusa.org/about/
3. Josh Rogin. “Trump is alienating Muslim voters. Can Democrats take advantage?” Washington Post. October 31, 2018. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2018/10/31/trump-is-alienating-muslim-american-voters-can-democrats-take-advantage/
4. Umar A. Farooq. “Can Muslims become strong voice in American politics?” Middle East Eye. January 2, 2020. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/confidence-american-muslims-are-continuing-build-their-political-ground-2020
5. Huggins, Perri. “Joe Biden Pledges to Boost Muslim Representation, Combat Islamophobia” Morocco World News. July 21, 2020. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/07/311345/joe-biden-pledges-to-boost-muslim-representation-combat-islamophobia
6. Maimah Karmo. “10 Inspiring Arab-American Leaders To Watch In 2017.” August 16, 2017. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-inspiring-arab-american-leaders-to-watch-in-2017_b_598fae2ce4b0ed1f464c0b5a
7. Green, Erica. “Biden Navigates Divisions Over Gaza Inside the White House and Beyond.” The New York Times. November 28, 2023. Accessed December 15, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/28/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas-divisions.html