Saqib Ali

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."

In 2010, Ali challenged incumbent Maryland Senator Nancy J. King to represent the same 39th district. He was defeated by 3.47%. Ali began a campaign for his old seat in the House of Delegates for the 2014 election but ultimately decided to drop out of the race.

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."

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 Muslim 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.

On September 10, 2006, Ali was endorsed by The Washington Post 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."

On November 2, 2006, The Washington Post endorsed the Democratic slate calling Ali "a bright newcomer".

Ali, King, and Barkley faced Republican 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.

In CNN's "Election Night 2006" coverage on November 7, 2006, Candy Crowley 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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ali was not originally a member of the Democratic party 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 Van 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.

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.

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 Village, but moved to Gaithersburg with their 1-month old daughter Sofia. Upon taking office they relocated to Annapolis.

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.

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."

Saqib Ali (born January 21, 1975) 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 Indian and Pakistani descent.

Saqib Ali was born on 21 January 1975 in Chicago, Illinois. He is Muslim and credits his parents, who are of Indian and Pakistani descent, 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."