WASHINGTON: Latee­fah Simon has made history as the fourth Muslim American elected to the US Congress, winning California’s 12th district seat in the Nov 5 elections.

An announcement on Friday confirmed her victory, adding to the growing representation of Muslims in American political life.

Simon joins Representatives André Carson of Indiana, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

Her election brings the count of Muslim Americans in the 119th Congress to four.

Simon, a prominent figure in California’s Bay Area, currently serves on the board of directors for the area’s rapid transit. Her career includes leading the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in the San Francisco Bay Area and an appointment to the California state university board of trustees by former governor Jerry Brown.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights group, highlighted Simon’s victory as “a historic milestone for Muslim representation”, providing her a powerful platform to advocate for communities nationwide.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024