VOA慢速英语--美国国会或出现首位穆斯林女性候选人

Candidate Likely to Become First Muslim Female in US Congress

Rashida Tlaib is one step closer to becoming the first Muslim female member of the United States Congress.

With almost all ballots² counted, Tlaib led all candidates for the Democratic Party’s nomination³ in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. Tuesday’s primary election decides who will be on the ballot¹ in November’s general election.

However, since there is no Republican or other candidates, Tlaib will be unopposed in November.

Ahlam Jbara lives in Chicago, six hours away by car from the Michigan congressional district in the city of Detroit. But she thought the Tlaib campaign was so important that she traveled all that way to be part of it. She said she identified closely with the candidate.

“As a Muslim American, as an Arab American, as a Palestinian American…I’m her, she’s me.”

Across the country, about 90 Muslim Americans are on ballots for elected office during this year’s elections. Many are running as Democrats⁴ hoping to become part of a so called “blue wave” for the party seeking to gain control of Congress.

Tlaib is among 13 Muslim candidates running for office in Michigan. The Detroit Free Press newspaper notes that, of the candidates seeking election in Michigan’s primary elections, 24 are immigrants or children of immigrants. Tlaib is among them.

She has gained attention around the country, especially from Muslim American women who see her candidacy as a door opening.

“She’s turning out first time voters, not just youth, but others who are the first time voters who’ve been American citizens for a long time, even those who are born here but have never voted before because they didn’t have faith in their government.”

Jbara said Tlaib made a big effort to meet voters going door to door.

Tlaib said she was not well recognized by voters when she started. But, she said her campaign knocked on more than 50,000 doors.

The race was close until the end. Early Wednesday morning, Tlaib heard the news that she had received more votes than Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones. She then thanked everyone who had helped her and also her family.

“I want to thank my Mom, who is from a small village in the West Bank…” she said.

A former Michigan state lawmaker, Tlaib is expected to take the seat in the House of Representatives once held by John Conyers. The long-time lawmaker stepped down in December for health reasons as he faced accusations⁵ of sexual wrongdoing.

Tlaib is not the only Muslim American woman running who could serve in Congress. Somali American lawmaker Ilhan Omar is running in a primary election in Minnesota on August 14. She could join Tlaib in the next Congress.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Words in This Story

knock on –v. to hit (a door) in a forceful way, to gain attention

1 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

2 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

4 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。