Palatine, IL: Indian American Nabeela Syed, a Democratic candidate for the 51st District in the Illinois state House, is vying to be the first South Asian in the State Legislature.
On her website, Syed says she’s running “to build a better Illinois for residents today and tomorrow — an Illinois with a strong economy, sustainable infrastructure, and affordable healthcare and higher education.” The 51st District includes parts of Palatine, Inverness, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, and Long Grove.
Syed was recently endorsed by State Reps Mark Walker and Theresa Mah, who said Syed “has a track record of mobilizing voters, especially young voters and voters of color, which will be critical for our party in 2022.” As a Palatine native, Syed promises to be an advocate for issues most important to her constituents, including healthcare, education, taxes, and equal rights.
Last November, two weeks after she announced her candidacy, Syed’s campaign raised over $25,000 from over 150 supporters. This Jan. 18, she took to Twitter, to note that her campaign has “shattered” its first fundraising goal.
Syed graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Political Science and Business Administration, where she served as the president of a pro-bono consulting organization assisting local businesses and nonprofits.
