Pakistani-Americans enter US state election race across six states

Pakistani-American candidates are competing for legislative seats in several US states as voters prepare to head to the polls for the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.

The candidates are contesting positions in Connecticut, Texas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Florida, with some seeking to retain seats they currently hold in their respective state legislatures.

In Connecticut, Maryam Khan and Saud Anwar are running for seats in the State Senate. Meanwhile, Texas has two Pakistani-American candidates, Salman Bhojani and Suleman Lalani, seeking re-election to the State House of Representatives from Districts 92 and 76, respectively.

Farooq Mughal is contesting a state legislative seat in Georgia, while Tariq Khan is running for office in Pennsylvania. Hanadi Nadeem is also seeking election to the Nevada State Assembly.

In Florida, Imtiaz Mohammad is participating in the election as a Republican candidate.

The participation of Pakistani-Americans reflects their growing involvement in political activities and electoral representation across different parts of the United States. Several other Muslim-American candidates are also competing for public office in various states.

Most of the candidates are targeting state-level legislative positions rather than federal seats. State legislatures play an important role in making laws, approving budgets and shaping policies within individual states.

The upcoming contests are part of the broader US midterm elections, which include races for various state and federal positions. State Senate and State House elections are separate from congressional contests for the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.