Saba Haider

Saba Haider
Member-elect of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 84th district
Assuming office
January 2027
SucceedingStephanie Kifowit
Personal details
PartyDemocratic

Saba Haider is an American politician. She is the Democratic member-elect of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 84th district. Prior to her victory, she was a yoga instructor and member of the DuPage County Board.

Biography

Haider was born to a family from Aurangabad, Bulandshahr; her father was a Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam engineer and her mother a schoolteacher. and raised in Ghaziabad (where her father moved the family for work). She attended Holy Child School, Ghaziabad.

Haider did her bachelor studies at Ram Chameli Chadha Vishvas Girls' College and her master studies at Aligarh Muslim University, where she obtained an academic gold medal, before emigrating to the United States in the mid-2000s. She is a yoga instructor, and owns small business Ashoga Yoga LLC. She is also a member of the DuPage County Public Health Board.

Haider ran for a seat on the DuPage County Board in 2022, losing to Patty Gustin. She later ran a second time in 2024, this time being successful.

Haider ran in Illinois's 84th House of Representatives district in the 2026 election, after Democratic incumbent Stephanie Kifowit retired to unsuccessfully run in that year's Illinois Comptroller election. Her campaign priorities included affordability and better funding for public services. She won the Democratic primary in March 2026, defeating Jared Ploger 64% to 36%. She won the general election in November 2026, defeating Republican candidate Brian Scopa 71% to 29%. She is the first Indian-American woman elected to the Illinois General Assembly.

Haider lives in Aurora with her husband, computer science engineer Ali Kazmi, and two children.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ghaziabad To Illinois: India-Born Saba Haider Scripts History In US Midterms". NDTV. November 6, 2026. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 https://www.news18.com/education-career/who-is-saba-haider-the-first-indian-origin-woman-to-join-dupage-county-board-9114847.html
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Patty Gustin unseated in DuPage County Board District 5 race but Chang Evans wins second term in District 3". Chicago Tribune. November 6, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Saba Haider". www.dupagecounty.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Rosca, Emily (November 4, 2026). "Haider Projected Winner In IL 84th District Race: AP". Oswego, IL Patch. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  6. ↑ Rosca, Emily (March 18, 2026). "Haider Projected Winner Of IL District 84 Race: Report". Oswego, IL Patch. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Haider Wins Illinois House District 84 Race: 2026 Results". Chicago Sun-Times. November 3, 2026. Retrieved November 6, 2026.