I now have a second major muslim politician to hyperventilate over – Andre Carlson won yesterday’s special election to fill the seat left open by his grandmother’s death.  It isn’t a landslide by any means, as he must continue the fight through to the November general election.

In this victory, as well as Keith Ellison’s in 2006, we’ve seen a particular melding of the american muslim identity:

“I’m a proud Hoosier,” Carson said after his speech Tuesday night. “I’m an Indy 500 Hoosier, I’m a Covered Bridge Festival Hoosier, I’m a Black Expo Hoosier, I’m a state fair Hoosier. I just happen to be a Hoosier of the Muslim faith.”

More on his religious identity can be read here.

Also, random facts:  Both muslim congressmen attend WD Muhammad affiliated masjids named Nur -Nur-Allah Islamic Center and Masjid an Nur.