CAMBRIDGE – In an unprecedented development, both the mayor and deputy mayor of Cambridge have been elected from the Pakistani American community.
In the January 5 elections, Sanbal Siddiqui from Karachi was elected mayor of Cambridge City for the third consecutive term (2026–2027), while Burhan Azim from Burewala became the youngest deputy mayor in the city’s history.
Sanbal Siddiqui, a lawyer originally from Karachi, has been active in US politics for several years. She was first elected to the Cambridge City Council in 2017 and previously served as mayor twice between 2020 and 2024. She is now the first Muslim mayor and first Asian woman in Cambridge to secure a third consecutive term.
Burhan Azim, son of Professor Munir Chaudhry from Burewala, is an engineer and MIT Boston graduate. He previously became Cambridge’s youngest city councillor and has now been elected deputy mayor at a record young age.
This historic election is being celebrated as a milestone for the Pakistani American community, reflecting their growing role and influence in US local governance.
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