Detroit’s Rashida Tlaib Poised To Become First Muslim Woman In Congress
Rashida Tlaib has some experience being first, and not just because she is the eldest of 14 children.
As the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, she was the first person in her family to earn a high school diploma — then a college degree, and a law degree.
She was the first Muslim woman ever elected to Michigan’s Legislature, where she served in the House for the maximum term of six years.
And in January, she is set to become America’s first-ever Muslim congresswoman.
The 42-year-old Detroit native, whose father worked at a Ford plant, clinched a Democratic primary in Michigan and won the right to run unopposed in a U.S. House race this fall.
“I am at a loss for words,” she tweeted overnight. “I cannot wait to serve you in Congress.”
Tlaib won the Democratic nomination to replace former Rep. John Conyers, the long-serving congressman and civil rights icon who resigned last year after sexual harassment allegations. The district covers portions of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs. It is heavily gerrymandered to concentrate Democratic votes, making it reliably Democratic.
“No Republicans ran in Tuesday’s District 13 primary race, meaning Tlaib is set to win the seat in November’s election and begin serving a full two-year term in January,” Michigan Radio reports.
Several other Muslim women are also running for Congress, in districts where primaries have not yet occurred — including Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is running for the House; Deedra Abboud, who is running for Senate in Arizona; and Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, who is making a bid for a House seat in Massachusetts.
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