In a striking political victory that defied conventional wisdom, Democratic state legislator Sam Rasoul has won re-election in Virginia while maintaining his strong criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which he describes as genocide.
A Resounding Mandate
Sam Rasoul, a Palestinian American Muslim and Virginia's longest-serving Muslim state lawmaker, secured an impressive 70% victory in Tuesday's election despite facing months of attack ads and accusations of antisemitism from opponents.
The 44-year-old Democrat, who has represented Roanoke City since 2014, actually increased his vote share from four years ago by more than 5% in a region where the city of Roanoke leans Democratic while surrounding areas remain deeply conservative.
"A 70% victory in the Bible belt of Virginia for a Palestinian Muslim is really a validation, beyond just Democrats winning, that you can be bold on the Gaza genocide and still be victorious," Rasoul told the Guardian following his win.
Controversy and Criticism
The re-election campaign proved particularly challenging for Rasoul, who faced condemnation from his Jewish Republican opponent running as an independent, pro-Israel groups, and even senior members of his own Democratic party.
The controversy erupted after Rasoul described the killing of at least 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023 as "the most evil cleansing in human history" and blamed Zionism, which he labelled "a supremacist ideology created to destroy and conquer everything and everyone in its way."
Accusations of antisemitism intensified in July 2025 when Rasoul shared a picture online of award-winning Palestinian writer Omar El Akkad's book One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Rasoul explained the social media post was intended to "clarify that the genocide in Gaza has nothing to do with Judaism, but rather the result of Zionism."
Building Trust Through Organising
Despite the polarising nature of the Gaza conflict, Rasoul attributes his electoral success not to specific issues but to fundamental campaigning principles.
"But I don't believe that issues win campaigns," Rasoul said. "It's good organising and deep, trusted relationships that win elections because people are really only looking for two things. Are you being honest with me? And will you work hard for me?"
Rasoul emphasised that while the situation in Gaza isn't necessarily voters' top concern, it serves as "proxies for people's gauge on our moral compass." He added: "Until we have that trusted relationship, it doesn't matter what we say. People know that when it's hard, I will speak the truth and fight for the issues that they do deeply care about and that impact their lives."
The Virginia legislator's approach focuses on showing up consistently - at constituents' doors, community fish fries, local churches, and schools - building the personal connections that transcend political controversies.
Progressive Politics and Personal History
Rasoul represents the most progressive faction of the Democratic party and has made affordability central to his political platform, focusing on housing and utility costs that directly impact his constituents.
"The reality is that over the past 40 years, the Democratic party was so desperate to please special interests, that we've lost touch with middle- and working-class Americans," he observed. "The establishment voices are too often on the wrong side of history, and representing the wrong interests."
His political journey connects deeply to his personal history. Rasoul was raised in Roanoke Valley in south-west Virginia, where his Palestinian parents eventually settled after leaving the occupied West Bank following the 1967 war that left thousands dead and forcibly displaced many others.
With a background in health administration and strategic planning for non-profits, Rasoul represents an ethnically diverse Democratic-leaning district that's approximately 60% white, 30% Black and 10% other, mostly Hispanic, with 86,000 predominantly Christian constituents.
Overcoming Prejudice
Throughout his political career, Rasoul has confronted both Islamophobia and the recent accusations of antisemitism.
During his first run for office, a widely distributed mailer falsely accused him of being funded by the terror group Al-Qaida. In his unsuccessful 2021 bid for lieutenant governor, Rasoul was the only candidate asked during a debate if he would represent his constituents "regardless of faith and beliefs," prompting accusations of Islamophobia and an eventual apology from the television station.
Rasoul is one of only three Muslim members of the part-time Virginia general assembly and among just seven state lawmakers of Palestinian heritage nationwide, alongside federal Representative Rashida Tlaib.
Progressive Alliances
Rasoul's victory echoes similar successes among progressive Democrats willing to take strong stands on controversial issues. He points to his friend Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, as another example of this political approach succeeding.
Mamdani first reached out to Rasoul in November 2023 - a month after Israel launched its full-scale invasion of Gaza, inviting him to participate in a hunger strike outside the White House. At the time, Rasoul had to Google the relatively unknown New York City assembly member before agreeing to participate.
"Forget about him being a democratic socialist, people are tired of political talk and just desperate for honesty," Rasoul said of Mamdani. "Zohran was able to provide real substance in an entertaining way that allowed people to connect emotionally to what he was conveying."
Rasoul's resounding victory suggests that in an increasingly polarised political landscape, authenticity and consistent engagement with constituents may prove more powerful than avoiding controversial positions.
"We show up at their doors, to their fish fries, at their churches, and to their schools, and they know that I'm ready to work hard for them," Rasoul concluded. "That's how you win elections."
