Democratic candidate Nabeela Syed has won Illinois state Senate District 26 in the US midterm elections, taking the seat by defeating Republican candidate Darby Hills.
The seat, in the north-western suburbs of Chicago, was previously held by Republicans. Her win strengthens the Democrats’ position in the state legislature and is also significant for Muslim and South Asian-origin representation.
Nabeela Syed, an Indian-origin Muslim, was born and raised in Palatine, Illinois. Her family’s roots are in Hyderabad, India. Interested in politics and civil rights from a young age, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and business administration from the University of California, Berkeley.
After her studies she worked as a digital strategist at a non-profit, where she was involved in initiatives to increase civic participation and political awareness. She also coached high school debate and mentored young people.
She came to national attention in 2022 when, at just 23, she was elected from Illinois House District 51. She made history as one of the youngest women elected to the state legislature and the first woman of South Asian origin, and as one of the first Muslim members of the Illinois legislature.
In the House she worked on healthcare, drug price controls, voting rights, child care and education, and wider access to mental health care.
Several laws she sponsored have been passed, including measures to stop abnormal price rises for generic drugs, paid leave for organ donors and early voter registration for 16-year-olds. She also served as vice-chair of the legislature’s committee on healthcare availability and accessibility.
Her opponent in this Senate election was Republican Darby Hills. By defeating Hills she wins the right to represent District 26, moving to the upper chamber of the state legislature after two terms in the House.
Her political rise is seen as a notable success for representation of Illinois’s Muslim and South Asian communities. Her path from entering politics at a young age to reaching the state Senate also shows the presence of a new generation of immigrant-origin leaders in US politics.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report