Aisha Chughtai | |
---|---|
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from Ward 10 | |
Assumed office January 3, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Lisa Bender |
Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council | |
Assumed office January 8, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Linea Palmisano |
Personal details | |
Born | 1996 or 1997 (age 26–27) |
Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America |
Residence(s) | Whittier, Minneapolis |
Website | Campaign website |
Aisha Chughtai (born 1997/1998)[1] is an American community organizer and politician serving as the vice president of the Minneapolis City Council, representing the 10th Ward. A member of the DFL, she was elected in 2021 to succeed retiring Council President Lisa Bender. She is the youngest person and first Muslim woman elected to the Council.[2]
Chughtai's parents are immigrants from Pakistan; her father worked as a mechanic and her mother as a Quranic instructor. She grew up in Houston, where her family experienced housing instability, and moved to Mankato, Minnesota during the 2008 financial crisis.[3][4]
Chughtai has worked on numerous political campaigns, including as campaign manager of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar's 2018 campaign. She later worked as a political organizer for the SEIU Minnesota State Council.[1]
See also: 2021 Minneapolis City Council election |
In 2021, Chughtai announced her candidacy for retiring Council President Lisa Bender's Ward 10 seat. Her campaign focused on expanding affordable housing and strengthening local labor laws.[3] The DFL did not issue an endorsement in the ward, as no candidate achieved the necessary vote threshold.[5] She was endorsed by the abortion rights organization #VOTEPROCHOICE.[6]
Chughtai won the instant-runoff election on November 3 with 50.3% of the vote to her nearest challenger's 33.6%.[7][8] She took office on January 3, 2022, becoming the first Asian American, Muslim woman, and youngest member of the Council.[9] She took the oath of office on a ceremonial Quran also used by Ilhan Omar, Keith Ellison, Omar Fateh, and numerous other Muslim officials elected in Minneapolis.[10]
On November 7, 2023, Chughtai was reelected to a second term with 60.7% of the first-round vote.[11] The DFL endorsed her for reelection in a virtual vote after violence at the Ward 10 DFL convention forced early adjournment.[12] She was appointed Council Vice President alongside Council President Elliott Payne.[13] She also chairs the Budget Committee and serves on the Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee.[14]
A renter, Chughtai lives in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood.[15][16] She is a member of the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).[17] She advocates for community control over the police.[16]