'Then in Ghaziabad, now Illinois': Saba Haider on how upbringing shaped her values after midterm win

Indian-origin Democrat Saba Haider, who became the first South Asian woman to be elected to the Illinois General Assembly, has credited her upbringing in Ghaziabad and her parents' approach to helping others for shaping her commitment to public service.Haider won the November 3 US midterm election from Illinois' 84th House District, securing 20,756 votes, or 70.9 per cent, against Republican candidate Brian Scopa.In a statement shared with the media by her family in Ghaziabad, Haider said the values she learnt at home continued to guide her even after moving to the US around 20 years ago. "In our house, we never asked how much money you have, or where you are from. We only asked: What do you need? Then in Ghaziabad, now in Illinois, the same family, same rule," she said, as quoted by PTI.Haider recalled that her parents regularly helped people in their neighbourhood, irrespective of their background. Her father, a government engineer, and her mother, who managed the household, would help neighbours with hospital visits, provide books to children, assist elderly residents and support families moving into the locality.She said she began following the same approach as a teenager by tutoring younger children for free, checking on elderly neighbours and helping organise community activities. "My father taught me that privilege is not for comfort; it is for service. He built public infrastructure with honesty all day, and came home to serve his own neighbourhood," Haider said.She added that her parents' influence had shaped her focus on issues such as the cost of living, affordable education and safer communities for children. "For my family, helping someone in need was never politics. It was just how we lived," she said.Haider, 42 has her family roots to Aurangabad in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district. She said her journey into electoral politics in the US involved extensive campaigning, including door-to-door outreach across Chicago suburbs during the winter primary season.In an interview with PTI Videos, she said voters were increasingly focusing on everyday concerns such as affordability, healthcare, education and the environment. "If the candidates are talking about those issues, like everyday kitchen table issues, people are paying attention to that," she said, adding that voters were responding to candidates addressing problems affecting families and their children.Haider also spoke about the scrutiny women face in electoral politics, saying they are judged on everything from the colour of their lipstick to the length of their sleeves.She urged young South Asian Americans interested in public service to get involved in local election campaigns and build support across communities.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.