Nabeela Syed

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Nabeela Syed

| state_house = Illinois

| state = Illinois

| district = 51st

| term_start = {{start date|2023|01|11}}

| term_end =

| preceded = Chris Bos

| succeeded =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|April 10, 1999}}

| birth_place = Illinois, U.S.

| party = Democratic

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| alma_mater = {{nowrap|University of California}}

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| image = Nabeela Syed 2023.jpg

| image_size = 180px

| caption = Syed in 2023

}}

Nabeela Syed is an American politician and Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 51st district. The 51st district, located in Chicago's north suburbs, includes all or parts of Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Deer Park, Kildeer, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumburg.{{cite web|title=Maps of Districts of the Illinois House of Representatives (2023-2033)|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|date=July 16, 2022|url=https://archive.org/details/2022-house-map-series-layout-reduce|access-date=November 14, 2022}}

Early life

Syed was born and raised in Illinois.{{Cite web |last=Venkatraman |first=Sakshi |date=November 11, 2022 |title=Meet the 23-year-old Indian American who flipped a Republican Illinois district |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/meet-23-year-old-indian-american-flipped-republican-illinois-district-rcna56669 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Her parents immigrated to Palatine from Hyderabad, India during the 1980s. Syed graduated from high school in Palatine, where she served on her school's Congressional Debate team and earned several accolades and awards.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2016 |title=Meet the 23-year-old Indian American who flipped a Republican Illinois district |url=https://twitter.com/FremdDebate/status/711361718895644672 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=X |language=en}} She is Muslim. She completed a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.{{Cite web |last=Krishna |first=Navmi |date=2022-11-11 |title=Meet Nabeela Syed, the Indian-American to become youngest lawmaker in Illinois |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/world/nabeela-syed-illinois-us-midterms-elections-8263176/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Syed said she was inspired to become involved in politics in 2016—when she was a senior in high school—by the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment in the country at the time, associated with Donald Trump.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=How 23-year-old Nabeela Syed wants to make space for more people in Illinois state politics |url=https://www.nprillinois.org/illinois/2023-01-10/how-23-year-old-nabeela-syed-wants-to-make-space-for-more-people-in-illinois-state-politics |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=NPR Illinois |language=en}}

Political career

In 2021, Syed served as Campaign Manager for Township High School District 211 School Board Member Tim McGowan. According to her LinkedIn profile, she served as a Marketing and Development intern at EMILY'S List.

Syed previously worked for the non-profit CivicNation as an assistant director of Digital Strategy.{{Cite web |last=Syed |first=Nabeela |date=14 January 2023 |title=Nabeela Syed |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/nabeela-syed |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=LinkedIn}} She is now a full-time legislator. {{Cite web |last=Syed |first=Nabeela |title=Nabeela Syed |url=https://ilga.gov/house/Rep.asp?GA=103&MemberID=3232 |access-date=9 March 2024 |website=ILGA}}

Illinois House of Representatives

Syed ran for state representative for the 51st District in 2022, against incumbent Republican Chris Bos.

Syed said she ran for the House at the urging of her friend. In one of the tightest and closest-watched General Assembly races that year, Syed focused her campaign on abortion access, healthcare affordability, and property tax reform. Bos opposed abortion rights. Syed out-raised Bos nine to one.

Syed defeated Bos with 22,775 votes (53.28%) to the incumbent's 20,847 votes (46.72%).

= Tenure =

She took office on January 11, 2023. At 24, Syed is one of the youngest people and one of the only Muslims to ever serve in the General Assembly.

Electoral history

= 2022 =

In 2022, Syed won the Democratic nomination and incumbent Chris Bos won the Republican nomination for the 51st district. In the general election, Syed defeated Bos with 22,775 votes (53.28%) to the incumbent's 20,847 votes (46.72%).{{cite book|editor-last=Matthews|editor-first=Bernadette M.|title=Official Canvass General Election November 8, 2022|date=December 5, 2022|access-date=December 5, 2022|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|location=Springfield, Illinois|url=https://archive.org/details/2022-official-vote-totals-book}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 51st State House District Democratic Primary, 2022{{cite book|editor-last=Matthews|editor-first=Bernadette M. (Executive Director)|title=Official Canvass of the Primary Election of June 28, 2022|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2024|page=108|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|location=Springfield, Illinois|url=https://archive.org/details/2022gpofficialvote-638058746174521169}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Nabeela Syed

| votes = 7103

| percentage = 72.18

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party of Illinois

| candidate = Chelsea Laliberte Barnes

| votes = 2737

| percentage = 27.82

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 9840

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 51st State House District General Election, 2022

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Nabeela Syed

| votes = 23,775

| percentage = 53.28%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Chris Bos

| votes =20,847

| percentage =46.72%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes =

| percentage =

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Illinois 51st State House District General Election, 2024{{cite web|title=Election Results|url=https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/VoteTotalSearch.aspx?ID=9huvqbsiUWA%3d|publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections|accessdate=February 1, 2024}}

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Nabeela Syed

| votes = 32,311

| percentage = 56.18%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Tosi Ufodike

| votes =25,203

| percentage =43.82%