WASHINGTON – From political battlegrounds of Texas to Connecticut and Georgia, Pakistani-Americans made their presence felt in 2026 US midterm elections. At least five candidates of Pakistani origin emerged victorious, defeating Republican rivals and securing key legislative seats, while another remained locked in a closely contested race in Pennsylvania.
Midterm polls brought gains for Pakistani-American representation across Connecticut, Texas and Georgia, where Democratic candidates successfully defended their seats or staged political comebacks.
Pakistani-American Candidates
| Candidate | State and district | Party | Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saud Anwar | Connecticut Senate 3 | Democrat | Won — approximately 66% |
| Maryam Khan | Connecticut Senate 2 | Democrat | Won — approximately 79% |
| Salman Bhojani | Texas House 92 | Democrat | Won — reportedly 67% |
| Suleman Lalani | Texas House 76 | Democrat | Won — reportedly 67% |
| Farooq Mughal | Georgia House 105 | Democrat | Won — approximately 60.8% |
| Meriam Sabih | Pennsylvania House 131 | Democrat | Leading in preliminary count |
| Imtiaz Mohammad | Florida House 103 | Republican | Lost — approximately 30–31% |
Two Victories for Pakistani-Americans in Connecticut
Connecticut turns out as major success story, with two Pakistani-origin Democrats winning State Senate contests. Senator Saud Anwar, a physician and former mayor, retained his seat in Connecticut’s 3rd Senate District after reportedly securing approximately 66 percent of the vote against his Republican challenger.
Anwar, who has served in the state Senate since 2019, declared victory, extending a political career that has made him an established Pakistani-American figure in Connecticut politics.
Maryam Khan won the state’s 2nd Senate District with a reported 79 percent of the vote. Born in Pakistan, Khan previously served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and has a professional background in special education. Her latest electoral success represents a further step in her political career.
Salman Bhojani, Suleman Lalani from Texas
Pakistani-origin Democrats also maintained their political presence in Texas, where two incumbent lawmakers successfully defended their seats. Salman Bhojani, an attorney representing House District 92, secured another term in the Texas House of Representatives.
Dr Suleman Lalani, representing House District 76, also won re-election, continuing his legislative career in one of America’s most politically significant states. Both lawmakers entered the Texas legislature in 2022, becoming among its first Muslim and South Asian representatives.
Their victories were particularly notable because both politicians maintained their electoral positions in a state long associated with Republican political strength.
Georgia Showdown by Farooq Mughal
One of key results came from Georgia, where Pakistani-American Democrat Farooq Mughal reclaimed a seat in the state’s House of Representatives. Mughal defeated Republican incumbent in District 105, receiving approximately 60.8 percent of the vote, according to reported election results.
His victory carried particular political significance because he previously represented the district between 2023 and 2025 before losing in the 2024 election following redistricting. Rather than ending his political ambitions after that setback, Mughal returned to the campaign trail and succeeded in reclaiming his position.
Some preliminary reports had placed his support closer to 62.8 percent, although subsequent figures indicated approximately 60.8 percent. His comeback added another Democratic victory to the growing list of Pakistani-origin politicians elected to American state legislatures.
Meriam Sabih from Pennsylvania
Attention also turned to Pennsylvania, where Meriam Sabih, a Democrat and daughter of Pakistani immigrants, was challenging Republican incumbent Milou Mackenzie in House District 131. Sabih, a journalist and longtime community organizer, had built her campaign around local political issues and community representation.
Preliminary returns reported early on November 4 showed Sabih leading Mackenzie with approximately 51 percent of the vote.
At one stage, she held a 651-vote advantage, with 16,201 votes against Mackenzie’s 15,550, as approximately 96.4 percent of votes had reportedly been counted. The Associated Press had not called the contest at that point. The race was particularly significant because Sabih had previously lost to Mackenzie in the 2024 election.
No Luck for Pakistani-Americans in Florida
While Democrats of Pakistani descent celebrated victories in several states, Republican candidate Imtiaz Mohammad suffered defeat in Florida. Mohammad contested the election for Florida House District 103 against a Democratic incumbent but failed to secure sufficient support.
According to reported results, he received approximately 30 to 31 percent of the vote, while his Democratic opponent secured around 69 percent. The businessman, who had previously switched political parties, was unable to turn his campaign into an electoral victory.
His loss meant that the most prominent reported successes among Pakistani-origin candidates were concentrated within the Democratic Party.
Other names, including Tariq Khan in Pennsylvania and Hanadi Nadeem in Nevada, also appeared in pre-election discussions.
US Midterm Elections 2026: Complete State-Wise, House, Senate Results
