Michigan just effectively elected the first Muslim woman to Congress, Rashida Tlaib

Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib is headed to Congress — (Image credit: AP Photo/Al Goldis)

Democrats in Michigan's 13th congressional district picked former state Rep. Rashida Tlaib in Tuesday's Democratic primary, and since there is no Republican running in November, she will almost certainly be the first Muslim woman ever elected to Congress. The Associated Press called the race for Tlaib, 42, over Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones early Wednesday. But with 96 percent of precincts reporting, Jones has a slight lead in the concurrent race to finish out the term of former Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.), who resigned late last year amid sexual harassment allegations. If Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, pulls ahead in that second race, she will become the first Muslim woman in Congress a few months earlier.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.