Madinah Wilson-Anton has taken one step closer to becoming the first Black Muslim women to be elected to the Delaware House of Representatives. Earlier this month, Wilson-Anton defeated 70-year-old incumbent, John Viola, to secure the Democratic nomination.
Wilson-Anton's primary race was too close for comfort. She defeated the incumbent by just 2% of the popular vote. In the sparsely populated state of Delaware, 2% accounts for just 43 votes. Thankful for the joyous occasion, she took to Twitter to celebrate.
“We won by 43 votes. 43 VOTES! Every. Single. Vote. Matters. THANK YOU! I am humbled by the trust that the voters have placed in me," she tweeted.
"Now, it’s time to win in November and get to work implementing our people-powered agenda. I’m proud to be on the side of the people."
In November, she will face off against Republican Timothy Conrad. If elected, the rising politician hopes to shake up the status quo in the state.
“Our legislators are so used to how things are that they lost the imagination for what’s possible. It’s the people that are within the system now that’s not going to fix it, so we need to elect people who will," she told the Newark Post.
"A lot of things seem controversial in the legislative hall, but it’s not controversial at all when you talk to people in the community...Frustration really inspired me to run, because I’m tired of complaining, and I want to make a difference.”
Wilson-Anton is a Delaware native. Currently working at the University of Delaware's Biden Institute, she started her career in politics working as a legislative aid for John Viola. She now calls the experience "eye opening." After beating out her former boss, she is now on the precipice of history.
"I think it’s really important that the person representing our community - which is actually a majority-minority district, very young compared to other districts in the state and also very, very progressive - is someone who is fighting for the issues that are important to us and not just getting in line with the caucus," she said.
“The establishment wants us to wait in line for the changes we deserve, and our campaign has shown people are sick of waiting and are ready for change."
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