Six Pakistani-origin candidates have secured victories in the US midterm elections, winning seats in state legislatures and state senates across several states. Their success is being viewed as a significant development for the political representation of the Pakistani-American community in the United States.
The successful candidates include Maryam Sabeih, Maryam Khan, Dr. Saud Anwar, Salman Bhojani, Dr. Suleman Lalani and Farooq Mughal.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic candidate Maryam Sabeih won a seat in the state House of Representatives. A Pakistani-American journalist and freelance writer, she has contributed to international media outlets, including Al Jazeera and The Huffington Post. Her campaign priorities included property tax relief for senior citizens and homeowners, public education funding and stronger regulations concerning firearm safety.
In Connecticut, Maryam Khan made history by becoming the state's first Pakistani-origin Muslim woman elected to the state Senate. Born in Pakistan, she moved to the United States in 1994. She previously served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and works as a teacher, including teaching students with special educational needs in Hartford public schools.
Also in Connecticut, Dr. Saud Anwar won re-election to the state Senate. He has served in the chamber since winning a special election in 2019 and is a co-chair of its public health committee. Professionally, he is a specialist in pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine.
In Texas, Democratic politician and lawyer Salman Bhojani secured another term in the state House of Representatives from District 92. He reportedly received approximately 67 percent of the vote, defeating Republican candidate J.P. Woodruff.
Another Pakistani-origin Democrat, Dr. Suleman Lalani, also retained his seat in the Texas House of Representatives, receiving around 67 percent of the vote. Both Bhojani and Lalani were first elected in November 2022 and became the first Muslim and South Asian members of the Texas Legislature.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Farooq Mughal won re-election to the state House of Representatives from District 105, defeating Republican candidate Sandy Donatuchi. Mughal was first elected in 2022 as the first Pakistani-American member of the Georgia Legislature.
The victories were secured at the state level rather than in the US Congress. Nevertheless, the results highlight the growing participation and political representation of Pakistani-origin Americans in different parts of the United States.
