India-born Saba Haider wins Illinois State Representative election

India-born Democrat Saba Haider has won election to the Illinois House of Representatives, becoming the first South Asian woman to be elected to the state's General Assembly.Ms. Haider won the November 3 U.S. mid-term elections from the 84th District with 70.9% of the votes, securing 20,756 ballots against her Republican rival Brian Scopa, who received 8,520 votes, or 29.1%.The 84th District covers parts of Will, DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties, including Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery and Boulder Hill.“We did it! We worked hard for the last 15 months talking to voters in every corner of District 84 to learn what they care about, what they want to see change, and how we can work together to build stronger, more prosperous, and more inclusive communities,” Ms. Haider said in a social media post on Thursday (November 5, 2026).She thanked voters, family members, friends, campaign team members and volunteers, describing the campaign as a "grassroots, people-powered movement"."Ultimately this election was about the people who call this community home. It was about building the future we all deserve," she said.Ms. Haider said her victory was for everyone who believes in an Illinois that is "a fair, just, and welcoming place for all"."Onwards and upwards!" she said.Before entering the Illinois legislature, Ms. Haider served as a DuPage County Board member and community advocate.Born in India, her family hails from Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh. She immigrated to the United States about 20 years ago.“Since then, I’ve dedicated my life towards giving back to the community that helped me and my family make Illinois our home," Haider said during her campaign.She said she wanted to continue serving the community by taking its concerns to Springfield, the state capital, and working with elected representatives to address the challenges faced by working families."I know firsthand the struggles our working families are going through, and I want to work with our elected officials to find solutions to the problems we all face,” Ms. Haider said during her poll campaign.An alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Ms. Haider earned an MSc in Wildlife Science from the institution.The AMU Network congratulated her on her victory, describing it as a "proud moment for the university community".“It’s not about being from a minority community. It is about your abilities, your confidence, your education and the personality you carry. It does not matter which background, caste or community you come from,” her brother Abbas Haider told PTI on Friday (November 6, 2026), reflecting on his sister’s victory in the U.S. elections.“When you are an educated and civilised person and want to reach out to people with a spirit of service, you can win an election anywhere,” he said.Mr. Abbas, who lives in Ghaziabad and runs a business, said the family was overwhelmed by the response to Saba’s victory, with relatives, friends, neighbours and well-wishers visiting their home to congratulate them.#WATCH | Ghaziabad | India-born Democrat Saba Haider won a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, becoming the first South Asian woman to be elected to the state's General Assembly Her brother says, "...When she moved to America about 20 years ago, neither she nor we had any idea that she would one day enter politics. Her entry into politics stemmed from her desire to be deeply engaged with the community; she was also involved in yoga and worked as a yoga teacher trainer...Ever since the election results were announced, it has been a moment of immense joy and celebration for all of us. It is a source of great pride—for our neighbours, our community, our acquaintances, and the entire city of Ghaziabad. In fact, this is a victory for the whole nation. It is not just a win for our sister, for Ghaziabad, or for our ancestral home in Bulandshahr; it is a victory for all of India. In a sense, this achievement is dedicated to all the daughters of India, serving as an inspiration for them to move forward—because, truly, the sky is the limit"— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2026