This year, a record number of Iranian Americans ran for office and last night, five of them– all women– made history by winning their race. Learn more about the winning candidates below
U.S. Congress
Yassamin Ansari, United States House of Representatives-Elect
Ansari wins election to congress after having served as Phoenix’s vice mayor and the youngest woman elected to Phoenix’s City Council. Ansari’s stated priorities for Capitol Hill are reproductive rights, protecting voter rights, advancing plans to combat climate change, lowering costs for working families, supporting small businesses, and more.
Stephanie Bice, Incumbent Re-elected to the United States House of Representatives
Bice has won re-election as the Representative for Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional district. Assuming office in 2021, Stephanie has since served on the House Appropriations Committee, Committee on House Administration, and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Bice’s primary issues of concern include fiscally conservative spending, supporting in-person learning for students, creating abundant and affordable energy sources, boosting defense and veterans, and more.
State Representatives
Darya Farivar, Incumbent Re-elected as Washington District 46 Representative
Darya Farivar has won re-election as a State Representative to Washington’s 46th district. Since she was first elected in 2023, Farivar has been a leading voice calling for community safety, access to democracy, and healthcare reform. Serving as Vice Chair of the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committees, Farivar has progressed Washington state in its protection of reproductive rights, regulation of guns, and pursuit of police accountability.
Anna Eskamani, Incumbent Re-elected as Florida District 42 Representative
Anna Eskamani, initially elected in 2018 as the first Iranian-American to be elected to any public office in the State of Florida has won re-election to Florida’s 42nd district. Rep.Eskamani has worked to ensure affordable housing and transportation, supported funding for Florida’s public schools, sponsored Florida’s renewable energy bill six years in a row, increased arts and culture funding throughout the state, and more.
Yara Zokaie, Colorado District 52 Representative-Elect
Yara Zokaie has won election as a State Representative for Colorado’s 52nd District. A first-generation Iranian-American, Zokaie holds a degree in law as well as a masters in taxation, which together have paved her career in practicing tax law to represent individuals and small businesses against the IRS and the Colorado Department of Revenue. Currently, she serves as Chief Deputy Assessor for Larimer County in Colorado. Zokaie’s stated priorities include pursuing more funding for Colorado public education, combating climate change, preserving reproductive rights, reforming the criminal justice system, creating a stronger path to citizenship for immigrants and refugees, and more.
City Council
Mitra Jalali, Incumbent Re-elected to the Saint Paul City Council
Jalali has won re-election as the Council Member for Ward 4 in Saint Paul Minnesota, where she became the first Iranian-American elected official in the state in 2018. The proud daughter of immigrants from Iran and South Korea, Jalali is St. Paul City Council’s first renter and now a first-time homeowner, a former social studies teacher, community organizer and policy aide who has committed her entire life to public service. Jalali has made affordable housing and climate action key issues in her campaign and has supported thousands of new homes at all affordability levels across Ward 4 and Saint Paul, including a $74M investment in deeply affordable housing.
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