India
Saba Haider’s Illinois Victory Brings Joy to Mother in Ghaziabad
Saba Haider, an India‑born Democrat, made history in the United States by winning a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, becoming the first South Asian woman elected to the state’s General Assembly. Her mother, Shahnaz Haider, who lives in Ghaziabad, expressed great pride and joy after receiving a phone call from her daughter. "Mummy, I am winner," Saba told her mother, prompting her to jump out of her chair and share the news with her family, who celebrated enthusiastically.
Haider secured a decisive win in the November 3 U.S. midterm elections, capturing the 84th district with 70.9 percent of the vote. She received 20,756 votes, defeating Republican Brian Scopa, who polled 8,520 votes (29.1 percent). The district includes parts of Will, DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties, covering cities such as Aurora, Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery and Boulder Hill.
In a social media post, Haider thanked voters, supporters and campaign volunteers, describing the campaign as a "grassroots, people‑powered movement" that involved months of outreach across the district. She highlighted her commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities and to representing the interests of working families in Springfield.
Born in India, Haider’s family traces its roots to Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh. She moved to the United States about 20 years ago and has been active in community service and public affairs. Prior to her election, she served on the DuPage County Board and worked as a community advocate.
Haider said she intends to bring residents’ concerns to the state capital and work with elected officials to address issues affecting 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," she said during her campaign.