Saqib Ali
Encyclopedia
Saqib Ali is a former State Delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates
, having been elected in 2006 to represent the 39th District. Ali is an American of Pakistan
i descent.
father and Pakistani mother who immigrated to America a few years earlier. Ali credits his parents, as the reason he became involved in politics. "[I am] from a family where they were always having political debates around the house, but then I found out that among all these family members who had all these grand ideas, none of them ever voted. There was a sense that, 'I don't like the way things are, but there's nothing I can do about it.' I thought: I'm going to show these people."
Ali moved to Montgomery County, Maryland
in 1991 to attend the University of Maryland, College Park
. He went on to receive Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Computer Science.
but changed parties after listening to Representative Chris Van Hollen
(D-Md.). Ali was "so enamored of Van Hollen's foreign policy positions that he changed his party affiliation from Green
to Democratic." Ali soon became "the first elected President of the District 39 Democratic Club". Ali's political activity first gained media attention when he "was the Legislative District 39 Coordinator for the Howard Dean
presidential campaign
in 2003 and early 2004." After Dean failed to win the primary, Ali supported the John Kerry
and John Edwards
presidential ticket
. During that election season, Ali became a full-time campaign volunteer for Rep. Chris Van Hollen
, because of Van Hollen's foreign policy positions and his stance on the Iraq War. During Hollen's 2004 reelection campaign, Ali said "I'm really motivated against this war and have never felt so animated before. I thought, 'What is the most head-turning thing I could possibly do?'" and he "bought 500 bumper stickers at a buck apiece and applied more than 400 to the car". It was noted that the family's other car was kept "very pristine" as "That's the one his wife drives." Later that year he was Co-Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Spring Ball. Also in 2004, Ali, a member of the Montgomery County Muslim Council, helped plan "the first Muslim-Jewish Day of Friendship" with "congregations Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Adat Shalom in Bethesda, Bethesda Jewish Congregation and Fabrangen Cheder" to "clean up a historic Underground Railroad
stop in Germantown
". Ali hoped the event would "allow people to start lasting friendships and show the ability of these groups to come together for a common good." In 2005, Ali's political activities expanded when he helped form the "Longdraft Road Coalition", an organization opposing the expansion of this "quiet, residential two-lane road to a bustling four-lane byway." Ali became "co-chairman of the 180-person plus group" whose efforts were largely viewed as successful. In September 2005, Ali also co-organized "The 2nd annual Montgomery County Muslim-Jewish Day of Friendship". In 2005, Ali was a campaign supporter of Jun Choi
, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
, which Choi won.
and made derogatory remarks about Islam
to Ali's campaign manager." Afterward, Truett drove to "the cul-de-sac outside Ali's Gaithersburg home, which doubles as his campaign office." There, he sat down in a lawn chair near the home "with a hand-lettered sign bearing a crude denunciation of Islam" [that said 'Islam Sucks']. Truett "wore a T-shirt reading 'This mind is an Allah-free zone'." Ali went out to look at the man and take pictures but did not speak to him, explaining "I knew he was there to bait me." Ali later recalled "I felt like he was intimidating and trying to menace me and my family, similar to when people burned crosses in someone's front yard. I think it was the exact same message." Ali's wife stepped outside and took pictures of Truett. An older man approached Truett and offered him some water. Ali then spoke to the older man and the older man went back inside. Ali placed one of his campaign yard signs next to Truett and took a picture. Truett then got up and left. Ali followed him and got pictures of his license plate. Truett then phoned Ali's office again but was hung up on. Ali later posted pictures of Truett, Truett's birth date and address on his campaign web site.
Both Ali and the police agreed that nothing illegal had happened, as he "was in a common area and not on Ali's property. Police apparently notified Truett later that he could be arrested if he did go onto the candidate's property in the next year." Ali told reporters that he is "100 percent Muslim and 100 percent American.... My faith is my faith... but that's incidental." He said "his candidacy is about such matters as 'roads, the schools' and not his religion." Quoting directly, "the demonstration 'reminds me of the need to build bridges amongst people and among communities.'"
which one county political veteran ranked as only behind that of the Democratic Party for its influence on local voters. The Post said “Political newcomer Saqib Ali has shown good command of issues and would bring new vigor to this district's delegation.” On September Sept. 20, 2006, it was announced Ali had won the Democratic primary in Maryland's 39th Legislative District, defeating incumbent Delegate Joan F. Stern for a position on the slate with Del's Nancy J. King and Charles E. Barkley for the November general election. Stern had lost the outright endorsement of King and Barkley as she was not seen as a team-player. King noted that "Ali was a 'breath of fresh air' to voters", while political veteran Gene Counihan said "As far as I could see, he followed the book on how to win an election. I saw him on the campaign trail more than anybody. He was out door-to-door; he had impressive literature. He wanted it." Ali ascribed his electoral victory to connecting with voters. "Our campaign had a lot of energy. It had that underdog feel that struck a chord with people and resonated. When you talk to real voters, not the insiders, they care if you pay attention to them. They remember that you listened to them. People appreciate new blood."
King won 28 percent of the vote, Barkley fetched 27 percent, Ali came in with 25 percent and Stern took 18 percent, according to unofficial results. About 16,600 District 39 voters went to the polls.
On November 2, 2006, The Washington Post endorsed the Democratic slate calling Ali "a bright newcomer".
challengers David Nichols, Gary Scott, and Bill Witham in the November 2006 election. The Democratic slate won,
averaging 22.4% over their challengers, who averaged 10.9% of ballets cast.
After his election, Ali told reporters that his “district is about 40 percent minority... and part of his campaign involved introducing those new immigrants to the political process, registering new voters and showing them how to cast a ballot. 'Bringing new Americans into the process is good for everybody. It's empowering.'" Ali raised nearly $120,000 for his campaign, mostly from family and his personal funds.
In its electing both Ali and Kumar P. Barve
(from the 17th District), “Maryland
became the first state to send two South Asians to the state legislature”. This occurrence was seen as an indication that Asian Americans have "political clout beyond traditional strongholds in California
and Hawaii
." Ali’s election is also seen as evidence of another American minority moving towards civic empowerment by participating in the political process, as “[h]e is the first Muslim in the Maryland State legislature.” His election and that of Keith Ellison
(D-MN) to the United States Congress are viewed by Michelle Boorstein of the Washington Post as “part of a concerted march of Muslims into civic and political life” in reaction to “worries about civil liberties
and immigration policy” that began after Sept. 11, 2001
.
After taking office, Ali was interviewed by the Associated Press while "holding his snoozing 8-month-old daughter outside the House chamber". When asked about the anti-Muslim protester during the campaign, Ali said the protester “was an exception to his experience on the campaign. 'It was disappointing that that kind of bigotry would still rear its head, but I understand it was an isolated incident. Occasionally people would ask if I was Muslim, but most of the time it was a curiosity, not an obstacle.'" Ali did not want to be seen as just a novelty because of his religion, he said he'd “like to work on transportation matters and to pass a bill making it tougher for companies to track information and buying habits of private citizens." He wanted his constituents to know he's one of them and said, "I will represent the Muslims, but more importantly, I will represent all the people. I’m a Muslim, but I’m also a resident." In other interviews that asked the same question, Ali replied “I'm Muslim, and that'll always be the case, but I'm here to push good issues and good policy for all Marylanders.... We're looking for good ideas", and "I'm here to push good ideas, not so much to push my faith."
Recalling the Quran Oath Controversy of the 110th United States Congress, the AP noted, "There was no religious controversy as Ali took the oath of office with his colleagues. Maryland lawmakers do not hold their hands on a religious text while taking office." Also joining Ali in the Maryland House was Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve
(D-Montgomery County), a Hindu
who's held office since 1990. Ali will be working in "the oldest statehouse in the country still in use by lawmakers and [a place] that George Washington
once walked the hallways."
(D) renewed his four-year call for the state to use revenue from slot machines to reduce its fiscal problem. Opposition to slot machines was one of the issues that Ali ran on and he repeated this position on Maryland Public Radio, citing his fears of the effects that such a measure would have on families of gambling addicts and calling for the state to close corporate tax loopholes instead. The need to speedily implement slot machine usage in the state was also questioned by Maryland Speaker of the House
Michael E. Busch
, (D-Anne Arundel County), who "saw no need to take up the issue this year".
Nancy J. King
to represent the same 39th district. He was defeated by 3.47%.
mentioned Ali in a discussion about Keith Ellison
(D-MN) and the growth of Muslim political participation in the United States.
Mohammed Babah, president of the Muslim Community Center of Maryland saw Ali's election as important for his community ‘‘This is huge. I believe we have a voice now, a voice that is not of suspicion, a voice that will show the Muslim view. After 9/11, Muslims were under the microscope. To elect this man shows the confidence that the country has in the majority of good Muslim people. This is reassuring.”
The Washington Post
reported that since "Saqib Ali was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates this month, he has been flooded with calls and e-mails from across the country asking: How'd you do it? The calls come from American Muslims like Ali, who, longtime political watchers and Muslim activists in the area say, is the first Muslim elected to a statewide – or district-wide – office in Maryland, Virginia or the District.... [E]ight Muslims ran for office in Maryland this year, significantly more than in previous years, although only Ali won. And initial polling data and anecdotal evidence suggest that significantly more Muslims in Virginia registered and voted this month than in previous elections." Ever since his election Ali "has been busy answering those requests for advice [from other Muslims wanting to get civically involved]. 'What I tell them is, know your community well, work hard and don't be a one-issue candidate. And don't let anyone paint you as "the Muslim candidate."'"
Delegate Ali joined U.S. Representative Keith Ellison
(D-MN), U.S. Rep. André Carson
(D-IN), State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad
(D-IA), State Senator Larry Shaw
(D-NC), and State Rep. Saghir "Saggy" Tahir (R-NH) as the only elected Muslim officeholders in the United States as of 2006.
, but moved to Gaithersburg
with their 1-month old daughter Sofia. Upon taking office they relocated to Annapolis.
Ali is employed as a Senior Software Engineer by The Mitre Corporation in McLean, Virginia
. He is the only engineer (though he does not have a degree in engineering) among the 188 legislators in the Maryland General Assembly.
On April 10, 2005, The Washington Post ran a story about the couple's struggle with a holoprosencephaly
(HPE) pregnancy, and an on-line chat with them about reaction to the story.
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
, having been elected in 2006 to represent the 39th District. Ali is an American of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i descent.
Background
Saqib Ali was born on January 21, 1975 in Chicago to an IndianNon-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
father and Pakistani mother who immigrated to America a few years earlier. Ali credits his parents, as the reason he became involved in politics. "[I am] from a family where they were always having political debates around the house, but then I found out that among all these family members who had all these grand ideas, none of them ever voted. There was a sense that, 'I don't like the way things are, but there's nothing I can do about it.' I thought: I'm going to show these people."
Ali moved to Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
in 1991 to attend the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. He went on to receive Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Computer Science.
Democratic volunteer and community activist
Ali was not originally a member of the Democratic partyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
but changed parties after listening to Representative Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
Christopher "Chris" Van Hollen, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
(D-Md.). Ali was "so enamored of Van Hollen's foreign policy positions that he changed his party affiliation from Green
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
to Democratic." Ali soon became "the first elected President of the District 39 Democratic Club". Ali's political activity first gained media attention when he "was the Legislative District 39 Coordinator for the Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
presidential campaign
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2004
The 2004 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2004 U.S. presidential election...
in 2003 and early 2004." After Dean failed to win the primary, Ali supported the John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
and John Edwards
John Edwards
Johnny Reid "John" Edwards is an American politician, who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina. He was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in 2004, and was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008.He defeated incumbent Republican Lauch Faircloth in...
presidential ticket
John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004
The Presidential Campaign of John Kerry, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and the nominee of the Democratic Party challenged Republican incumbent President George W. Bush in the U.S. presidential election on November 2, 2004. Ultimately, Kerry conceded defeat in the race in a telephone call to Bush...
. During that election season, Ali became a full-time campaign volunteer for Rep. Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
Christopher "Chris" Van Hollen, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, because of Van Hollen's foreign policy positions and his stance on the Iraq War. During Hollen's 2004 reelection campaign, Ali said "I'm really motivated against this war and have never felt so animated before. I thought, 'What is the most head-turning thing I could possibly do?'" and he "bought 500 bumper stickers at a buck apiece and applied more than 400 to the car". It was noted that the family's other car was kept "very pristine" as "That's the one his wife drives." Later that year he was Co-Chair of the Montgomery County Democratic Spring Ball. Also in 2004, Ali, a member of the Montgomery County Muslim Council, helped plan "the first Muslim-Jewish Day of Friendship" with "congregations Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Adat Shalom in Bethesda, Bethesda Jewish Congregation and Fabrangen Cheder" to "clean up a historic Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
stop in Germantown
Germantown, Montgomery County, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,395 people, and 30,531 households residing in the area. The population density was 7,999.5 people per square mile . There were 31,807 housing units at an average density of 2,001.9 per square mile...
". Ali hoped the event would "allow people to start lasting friendships and show the ability of these groups to come together for a common good." In 2005, Ali's political activities expanded when he helped form the "Longdraft Road Coalition", an organization opposing the expansion of this "quiet, residential two-lane road to a bustling four-lane byway." Ali became "co-chairman of the 180-person plus group" whose efforts were largely viewed as successful. In September 2005, Ali also co-organized "The 2nd annual Montgomery County Muslim-Jewish Day of Friendship". In 2005, Ali was a campaign supporter of Jun Choi
Jun Choi
Jun H. Choi is an American politician and the former Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, a community of over 100,000 people and the fifth largest municipality in the state. He was sworn in on January 1, 2006 as the youngest mayor in Edison history...
, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
Edison, New Jersey
Edison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township...
, which Choi won.
2006 election campaign
On October 1, 2005, Ali announced his candidacy for inclusion on the three-person Democratic slate for "Legislative District 39 which includes Montgomery Village, Washington Grove and parts of Gaithersburg, Derwood, Germantown and North Potomac." Members of the Maryland General Assembly have four-year terms.MCEA endorsement
On January 30, 2006, candidate Ali "accompanied a Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) contingent to Annapolis to lobby legislators to improve the state's... teacher pension system." By June 2006, MCEA had given Ali its "much sought-after endorsement" which "has always carried considerable weight in the minds of county voters. The Apple Ballot lists the recommended candidates that support public education and 11,000 educators. This ballot is an indication of politicians that support public schools and their employees."Anti-Muslim protester
On August 12, 2006 Timothy James Truett of Montgomery Village allegedly made a "call to Ali's office in which he asked if Ali was a MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
and made derogatory remarks about Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
to Ali's campaign manager." Afterward, Truett drove to "the cul-de-sac outside Ali's Gaithersburg home, which doubles as his campaign office." There, he sat down in a lawn chair near the home "with a hand-lettered sign bearing a crude denunciation of Islam" [that said 'Islam Sucks']. Truett "wore a T-shirt reading 'This mind is an Allah-free zone'." Ali went out to look at the man and take pictures but did not speak to him, explaining "I knew he was there to bait me." Ali later recalled "I felt like he was intimidating and trying to menace me and my family, similar to when people burned crosses in someone's front yard. I think it was the exact same message." Ali's wife stepped outside and took pictures of Truett. An older man approached Truett and offered him some water. Ali then spoke to the older man and the older man went back inside. Ali placed one of his campaign yard signs next to Truett and took a picture. Truett then got up and left. Ali followed him and got pictures of his license plate. Truett then phoned Ali's office again but was hung up on. Ali later posted pictures of Truett, Truett's birth date and address on his campaign web site.
Both Ali and the police agreed that nothing illegal had happened, as he "was in a common area and not on Ali's property. Police apparently notified Truett later that he could be arrested if he did go onto the candidate's property in the next year." Ali told reporters that he is "100 percent Muslim and 100 percent American.... My faith is my faith... but that's incidental." He said "his candidacy is about such matters as 'roads, the schools' and not his religion." Quoting directly, "the demonstration 'reminds me of the need to build bridges amongst people and among communities.'"
Primary
On September 10, 2006, Ali was endorsed by the The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
which one county political veteran ranked as only behind that of the Democratic Party for its influence on local voters. The Post said “Political newcomer Saqib Ali has shown good command of issues and would bring new vigor to this district's delegation.” On September Sept. 20, 2006, it was announced Ali had won the Democratic primary in Maryland's 39th Legislative District, defeating incumbent Delegate Joan F. Stern for a position on the slate with Del's Nancy J. King and Charles E. Barkley for the November general election. Stern had lost the outright endorsement of King and Barkley as she was not seen as a team-player. King noted that "Ali was a 'breath of fresh air' to voters", while political veteran Gene Counihan said "As far as I could see, he followed the book on how to win an election. I saw him on the campaign trail more than anybody. He was out door-to-door; he had impressive literature. He wanted it." Ali ascribed his electoral victory to connecting with voters. "Our campaign had a lot of energy. It had that underdog feel that struck a chord with people and resonated. When you talk to real voters, not the insiders, they care if you pay attention to them. They remember that you listened to them. People appreciate new blood."
King won 28 percent of the vote, Barkley fetched 27 percent, Ali came in with 25 percent and Stern took 18 percent, according to unofficial results. About 16,600 District 39 voters went to the polls.
On November 2, 2006, The Washington Post endorsed the Democratic slate calling Ali "a bright newcomer".
General Election
Ali, King, and Barkley faced RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
challengers David Nichols, Gary Scott, and Bill Witham in the November 2006 election. The Democratic slate won,
averaging 22.4% over their challengers, who averaged 10.9% of ballets cast.
After his election, Ali told reporters that his “district is about 40 percent minority... and part of his campaign involved introducing those new immigrants to the political process, registering new voters and showing them how to cast a ballot. 'Bringing new Americans into the process is good for everybody. It's empowering.'" Ali raised nearly $120,000 for his campaign, mostly from family and his personal funds.
In its electing both Ali and Kumar P. Barve
Kumar P. Barve
Kumar P. Barve is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing district 17 in Montgomery County.-Legislative career:...
(from the 17th District), “Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
became the first state to send two South Asians to the state legislature”. This occurrence was seen as an indication that Asian Americans have "political clout beyond traditional strongholds in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
." Ali’s election is also seen as evidence of another American minority moving towards civic empowerment by participating in the political process, as “[h]e is the first Muslim in the Maryland State legislature.” His election and that of Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
(D-MN) to the United States Congress are viewed by Michelle Boorstein of the Washington Post as “part of a concerted march of Muslims into civic and political life” in reaction to “worries about civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
and immigration policy” that began after Sept. 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
.
Maryland's 423rd legislative session
Ali officially took office on January 10, 2006, among 33 other first-time delegates (and 11 freshmen state senators). Ali's Democratic Party held 104 of 141 delegate seats and 33 of 47 senate seats, giving it veto-proof margins in the State Legislature. Ali was assigned to the House Environmental Matters Committee.After taking office, Ali was interviewed by the Associated Press while "holding his snoozing 8-month-old daughter outside the House chamber". When asked about the anti-Muslim protester during the campaign, Ali said the protester “was an exception to his experience on the campaign. 'It was disappointing that that kind of bigotry would still rear its head, but I understand it was an isolated incident. Occasionally people would ask if I was Muslim, but most of the time it was a curiosity, not an obstacle.'" Ali did not want to be seen as just a novelty because of his religion, he said he'd “like to work on transportation matters and to pass a bill making it tougher for companies to track information and buying habits of private citizens." He wanted his constituents to know he's one of them and said, "I will represent the Muslims, but more importantly, I will represent all the people. I’m a Muslim, but I’m also a resident." In other interviews that asked the same question, Ali replied “I'm Muslim, and that'll always be the case, but I'm here to push good issues and good policy for all Marylanders.... We're looking for good ideas", and "I'm here to push good ideas, not so much to push my faith."
Recalling the Quran Oath Controversy of the 110th United States Congress, the AP noted, "There was no religious controversy as Ali took the oath of office with his colleagues. Maryland lawmakers do not hold their hands on a religious text while taking office." Also joining Ali in the Maryland House was Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve
Kumar P. Barve
Kumar P. Barve is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing district 17 in Montgomery County.-Legislative career:...
(D-Montgomery County), a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
who's held office since 1990. Ali will be working in "the oldest statehouse in the country still in use by lawmakers and [a place] that George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
once walked the hallways."
Slot machines
After his election as Governor, Martin O'MalleyMartin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
(D) renewed his four-year call for the state to use revenue from slot machines to reduce its fiscal problem. Opposition to slot machines was one of the issues that Ali ran on and he repeated this position on Maryland Public Radio, citing his fears of the effects that such a measure would have on families of gambling addicts and calling for the state to close corporate tax loopholes instead. The need to speedily implement slot machine usage in the state was also questioned by Maryland Speaker of the House
Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
The Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates presides as speaker over the House of Delegates in the state of Maryland in the United States.-List of Speakers of the House of Delegates:- References :*...
Michael E. Busch
Michael E. Busch
Michael E. Busch is the current Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in the United States. Busch has been a member of the House since 1987, and Speaker since January 2003...
, (D-Anne Arundel County), who "saw no need to take up the issue this year".
Legislative notes
- voted for the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 (HB359)http://mlis.state.md.us/2007rs/billfile/HB0359.htm
- voted in favor of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants in 2007 (HB6)http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/votes/house/0690.htm
2010 election campaign
In 2010, Ali challenged incumbent Maryland SenatorMaryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
Nancy J. King
Nancy J. King
Nancy J. King is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. After serving five years in the Maryland House of Delegates, she was appointed to the Maryland State Senate in 2007. King represents Maryland's 39th district in Montgomery County. She serves on the Budget...
to represent the same 39th district. He was defeated by 3.47%.
Muslim political participation
In CNN’s "Election Night 2006" coverage on November 7, 2006, Candy CrowleyCandy Crowley
Candy Alt Crowley is a CNN anchor and Chief Political Correspondent, specializing in U.S. presidential, gubernatorial, and Senate elections. She is based in CNN's Washington bureau, and hosted Inside Politics in place of Judy Woodruff before the show was replaced with The Situation Room. Crowley...
mentioned Ali in a discussion about Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
(D-MN) and the growth of Muslim political participation in the United States.
Mohammed Babah, president of the Muslim Community Center of Maryland saw Ali's election as important for his community ‘‘This is huge. I believe we have a voice now, a voice that is not of suspicion, a voice that will show the Muslim view. After 9/11, Muslims were under the microscope. To elect this man shows the confidence that the country has in the majority of good Muslim people. This is reassuring.”
The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
reported that since "Saqib Ali was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates this month, he has been flooded with calls and e-mails from across the country asking: How'd you do it? The calls come from American Muslims like Ali, who, longtime political watchers and Muslim activists in the area say, is the first Muslim elected to a statewide – or district-wide – office in Maryland, Virginia or the District.... [E]ight Muslims ran for office in Maryland this year, significantly more than in previous years, although only Ali won. And initial polling data and anecdotal evidence suggest that significantly more Muslims in Virginia registered and voted this month than in previous elections." Ever since his election Ali "has been busy answering those requests for advice [from other Muslims wanting to get civically involved]. 'What I tell them is, know your community well, work hard and don't be a one-issue candidate. And don't let anyone paint you as "the Muslim candidate."'"
Delegate Ali joined U.S. Representative Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
(D-MN), U.S. Rep. André Carson
André Carson
André D. Carson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2008. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-IN), State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad
Ako Abdul-Samad
Ako Abdul-Samad is the Iowa State Representative from the 66th District. He has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2007. Previously, he had been a member of the Des Moines school board....
(D-IA), State Senator Larry Shaw
Larry Shaw (politician)
Larry Shaw is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's twenty-first Senate district, including constituents in Cumberland County. A corporate executive from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Shaw is currently serving in his seventh term in the North Carolina...
(D-NC), and State Rep. Saghir "Saggy" Tahir (R-NH) as the only elected Muslim officeholders in the United States as of 2006.
Personal life and career
Ali, his parents, and his sister are all long-time Montgomery County residents. He has been married since 1999 to his wife Susan whom he met when they were working at a computer networking firm. They originally lived in Montgomery VillageMontgomery Village, Maryland
Montgomery Village is a northern suburb of Gaithersburg in an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a large, planned suburban community, developed in the late 1960s and 1970s right outside Gaithersburg city limits...
, but moved to Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
with their 1-month old daughter Sofia. Upon taking office they relocated to Annapolis.
Ali is employed as a Senior Software Engineer by The Mitre Corporation in McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
. He is the only engineer (though he does not have a degree in engineering) among the 188 legislators in the Maryland General Assembly.
On April 10, 2005, The Washington Post ran a story about the couple's struggle with a holoprosencephaly
Holoprosencephaly
Holoprosencephaly is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon fails to develop into two hemispheres. Normally, the forebrain is formed and the face begins to develop in the fifth and sixth weeks of human pregnancy...
(HPE) pregnancy, and an on-line chat with them about reaction to the story.
Electoral history
- 2006 Race for Maryland House of Delegates–39th District
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- Voters to choose three:
Name Votes Perecent Outcome Nancy J. King Nancy J. KingNancy J. King is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. After serving five years in the Maryland House of Delegates, she was appointed to the Maryland State Senate in 2007. King represents Maryland's 39th district in Montgomery County. She serves on the Budget...
, Democratic18,651 23.5% Won Charles E. Barkley Charles E. BarkleyCharles E. "Charlie" Barkley is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in his third term in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Maryland's District 39 in Montgomery County...
, Democratic18,253 23.0% Won Saqib Ali, Democratic 16,455 20.7% Won David Nichols, Republican 9,278 11.7% Lost Gary Scott, Republican 8,363 10.4% Lost Bill Witham, Republican 8,244 10.4% Lost
- Voters to choose three: