The Team
About The New Bloc.
A project of The New Minbar Project. A nonpartisan civic resource built by and for Illinois Muslim voters.
The New Bloc is a volunteer-driven project created to help Muslim Americans in Illinois make informed decisions at the ballot box. We research candidates, track endorsements, and build tools so our community can vote with confidence.
This guide was built for the March 17, 2026 Illinois primary. We are not affiliated with any political party, campaign, or PAC.
Contributors
The people who research, write, design, and build The New Bloc voter guide.
Shahaab Uddin
Lead Advisor
Shahaab Uddin is a life long humanitarian and political activist. He's been involved with grassroots movements in Illinois and throughout the country.
Afaq Syed
Lead Advisor
Afaq is a local activist and political leader that is passionate about driving civic engagement within the Muslim community.
Race Liaisons
Each key race has a dedicated liaison who tracks developments, attends forums, and keeps our information current.
Dr. Syed Karim
U.S. Senate Liaison
Dr. Karim serves as The New Bloc's liaison for the U.S. Senate race, tracking candidate positions, attending campaign forums, and keeping our community informed.
U.S. Senate
Bilal Mujahid
IL-6th District Liaison
Bilal is a Lombard resident committed to the civic empowerment of underrepresented communities. He monitors candidate activity and keeps Muslim and Arab-American voters in the southwest suburbs informed.
IL-06
Olu Gordon
HD-13 Liaison
A well-known figure in Bronzeville, Olu Gordon is a community leader and proud member of the Salaam Community Wellness Center. He tracks the race and keeps Muslim voters informed.
HD-13 · Demi Palecek
Interested in volunteering as a race liaison? Email hello@thenewbloc.com
Contact Us
Have a question, correction, or want to get involved? Reach us directly.