The race for the White House has entered a critical phase, with both Democratic and Republican candidates fiercely competing in swing states. With less than a week to go, the outcomes for candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump hang in the balance.
This moment is equally pivotal for various congressional races across the United States, including those for state houses and senates. Michigan, a key swing state, has a significant population of Muslim Americans, particularly those of Middle Eastern descent.
In Michigan, American-Pakistani Democrat Aisha Farooqi is vying for a seat in the State Assembly representing District 57. Facing incumbent Republican Thomas Kuhn on November 5, her task is challenging.
Farooqi secured her position by winning the Democratic primary on August 6, 2024, with an impressive 66.8% of the vote, defeating challengers Tyler Fox and Douglas Waggener.
In contrast, Kuhn ran unopposed in his primary. Interestingly, both candidates received nearly equal support in the last election, with Kuhn defeating Farooqi 17,606 votes (52.6%) to her 15,842 votes (47.4%).
If Farooqi manages to overcome this gap, she would make history as the first American-Pakistani woman in the Michigan State Assembly.
Aisha Farooqi is the daughter of self-made Pakistani immigrants from Lahore, both of whom were professors of Chemistry. After being born in Scotland, her family moved to Detroit when she was nine. She graduated from Farmington High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and completed her law degree at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Before entering the professional world, Farooqi volunteered at a local health clinic and currently works as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Wayne County. She has also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for Sterling Heights and is active in the Macomb County Black Caucus and the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council.
Farooqi has garnered strong endorsements from influential figures, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Stephanie Chang, and several local officials. Labor organizations such as AFSCME, MEA, and Planned Parenthood have also backed her campaign, which will help with fundraising and outreach.
However, her campaign faces significant challenges due to the current geopolitical climate in the Middle East. Many Arab Muslim Americans are disillusioned, with some prayer leaders publicly endorsing Donald Trump, asserting that he offers a promise of peace. This sentiment complicates Farooqi’s efforts to secure support from Muslim voters who may view her party’s candidates, including Kamala Harris, with skepticism.
As veteran attorney Jaspreet Singh noted, elections often boil down to choosing the lesser of two evils rather than selecting the best candidate. Farooqi must navigate this landscape to persuade voters in her constituency to lean Democratic.
Inspiration may be drawn from “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, which resonates with Farooqi’s aspirations. Quotes like “It is the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” and “When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person realize his dream” reflect her determination.
Farooqi embraces a fearless approach, recognizing that the only barrier to achieving her dreams is the fear of failure.
