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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 20, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 20

                                 Community Leaders Rally Behind

                 Bushra Amiwala in Historic Bid to Join a New

                               Generation of Leaders in Congress

            OUR BUREAU                        “homegrown  fighter”  her  campaign   recalling how underdog candidates   for All to ensure universal healthcare
                                              proudly  proclaims.  As  the  first  Gen   have surprised expectations before.  access; clear pathways to citizenship
            Chicago, IL
                                              Z elected official in the United States,   Ahsan Khaja, a Lincolnwood   amid visa challenges faced by South
               n the heart of Skokie, Illinois,  Amiwala made history in 2019 when,  resident and former candidate for  Asian professionals and students; and
               where the aroma of spiced chai   at just 21, she won a seat on the Skok-  Trustee, echoed this sentiment, calling   increased federal  funding  for  public
            Imingles with the buzz of passion-  ie School District 73.5 Board of Edu-  Amiwala “our community’s daughter.”  schools to break the link between zip
            ate conversation, a vibrant gathering   cation. She has served with distinction   He highlighted her journey through   codes and educational quality.
            unfolded on February 8, 2026, at 7   for seven years, tackling budgets, ordi-  diverse  schools in the district from   In a district grappling with ris-
            Spices Restaurant. What could have   nances, and community needs with a   struggling ones to top performers and   ing groceries, rents, and benefit cuts,
            been just another Sunday afternoon   focus on equity and accessibility.  her tireless outreach. “She’s very in-  Amiwala’s message cuts through: “All
            turned into a powerful display of com-  Before stepping into the congres-  telligent and very down to earth. She   of that is at stake.” She stands as the
            munity solidarity, as respected South   sional race full-time, Amiwala worked   reaches out to everybody in the com-  only  lifelong  resident  in  a  field  that
            Asian American leaders and residents   as  a  Solutions  Consultant  at  Google   munity. Everybody loves her,” Khaja   includes mayors, state legislators,
            came together to champion Bushra   for five years while pursuing her MBA   noted, encouraging early voting to   and newcomers some backed by sig-
            Amiwala’s campaign for U.S. Con-  at Northwestern University’s Kellogg   build unstoppable momentum.  nificant  out-of-state  funding  or  spe-
            gress in Illinois’s 9th District.  School of Management. Yet her sto-   Ahmed Khan, a lifelong 9th Dis-  cial interests. Her campaign website,
                Hosted by social activist and Lin-  ry begins much earlier. At 19, she ran   trict resident and longtime commu-  BushraforCongress.com, details these
            colnwood resident Iftekhar Shareef,  for Cook County Commissioner in the   nity  activist,  brought historical per-  policies and invites volunteers, donors,
            the community meet-and-greet drew   13th District, finishing a strong second   spective. Having run for office himself   and prayers from supporters.
            an enthusiastic crowd eager to hear   against a long-time incumbent and   years  ago when South Asian candi-  In a primary flooded with over a
            directly from the candidate and her   earning nearly 14,000 votes a remark-  dacies were dismissed as improbable,  dozen Democratic  candidates, Ami-
            supporters. The event captured the   able feat for a young, hijab-wearing,  Khan celebrated the evolution: today,  wala’s appeal lies in her authenticity:
            spirit of a district in transition: one   Muslim woman entering the arena at a   diverse  candidates  across  faiths  and   a trailblazing young woman who has
            shaped by decades of progressive   time when many doubted South Asians   backgrounds are stepping up. He   already delivered results locally, un-
            leadership under retiring U.S. Rep.  could compete in electoral politics.  praised Amiwala’s unique blend of   derstands the immigrant experience
            Jan Schakowsky, now facing a crowd-   That early momentum has only   experience of nonprofit work, corpo-  firsthand,  and  refuses  to  let  distant
            ed Democratic primary on March 17,  grown. Supporters like Iftekhar Sha-  rate expertise, elected service, and a   interests drown out community voices.
            2026, with multiple contenders vying   reef, an active voice in Chicago’s   platform addressing real crises such   As South Asian Americans and broad-
            to carry the torch forward.       South Asian community, emphasized   as affordability, immigration reform,  er Asian communities rally, this meet-
                Bushra Amiwala, a 28-year-old   Amiwala’s authenticity during the   and public education funding.  and-greet signaled more than support
            daughter of South Asian immigrants,  event. “She is from the communi-   Amiwala herself addressed the   it marked a movement for represen-
            stands out not just for her youth but   ty...grown  up here,  she knows every   crowd with poise and purpose. Leav-  tation that reflects the district’s evolv-
            for her deep roots and proven record.  neighbor, every street,” Shareef said,  ing her role at Google to campaign   ing diversity. With polls opening soon
            Born in Chicago and raised in the very   contrasting her lifelong residency with   full-time, she framed her run as a   and early voting underway, the call is
            communities she seeks to represent   candidates from outside the district or   fight  for  working-class  families  like   clear: come out, vote early if possible,
            from Rogers Park to Skokie, Evan-  those with established power but little   her own, where government provid-  and help send a homegrown leader to
            ston, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove,  local progress. He urged voters not to   ed a “hand up, not handout.” Her   Washington who fights for everyone.
            Niles, and beyond she embodies the   be swayed by polls or media narratives,  priorities resonate deeply: Medicare   --Asian Media USA

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