CALIFORNIA – Pakistani-American Ali Sajjad has announced his candidacy for the state assembly election from District 67 in the U.S. state of California. If he wins, he will have the distinction of becoming the first Pakistani-American to be elected to California’s assembly.
Ali Sajjad is currently serving his third term as mayor of the city of Artesia in District 67. He has also served as the president of the League of California Cities. Ali Sajjad began his political career as a councilor and now aims to become the Democratic Party’s candidate in the state elections scheduled for 2026.
The Democratic Party primary, which will determine who represents the party in this district, will take place in June 2026. Ali Sajjad’s position is strong due to the endorsement of Sharon Quirk-Silva, a Democratic leader who has represented the district for 12 years. Since Sharon is no longer eligible to run, she has named Ali Sajjad as the most suitable candidate.
Sharon Quirk-Silva stated that Ali Sajjad understands the needs of the communities and has the experience to fulfill his promises, making him an excellent candidate to represent the district.
Other Democratic leaders endorsing Ali Sajjad include Senator Josh Newman, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Assembly members Cottie Petrie-Norris, Blanca Pacheco, Mike Gibson, Senator Bob Archuleta and others.
In his first TV interview after announcing his candidacy, Ali Sajjad expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received. He pledged to work on improving education, public safety, housing, reducing environmental pollution, and contributing to California’s development if elected.
California’s District 67 leans Democratic, with approximately 55% Democratic voters and around 45% Republicans. South Asians make up only about 5% of the district’s population, while a significant number of East Asians reside there. Ali Sajjad will need to rely on the votes of these communities, and it is a positive sign that several prominent East Asian leaders are among his endorsers.
Ali Sajjad’s family hails from Lahore. His father, Shuja Hassan, was a prominent figure in the banking sector and served as the president of one of Pakistan’s largest banks.
Shuja Hassan was also well-known for his community service in California, and Ali Sajjad credits his passion for serving people to this legacy.
