Bushra Amiwala has announced her candidacy for the U.S. Congress IL 9

In an effort to bring a new generation of leaders to Congress, Bushra Amiwala has launched a campaign for the U.S. Congress in Illinois.

Bushra Amiwala, the first Gen Z elected official in the United States and a nationally recognized advocate for equity and civic engagement, has officially launched her campaign for Congress to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District following Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky’s announcement that she will retire after 28 years of service.

The daughter of Pakistani immigrants and a proud Skokie native, Amiwala is running on a progressive platform rooted in transparency, accountability and people-first policymaking. At just 19 years old, she made headlines by challenging a 16-year incumbent for county office, and later made history as a two-term elected school board member in Skokie School District 73.5. She currently works as a solutions consultant at Google and recently earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, located in the heart of the district.

“This campaign is rooted in the belief I first held when I ran for office: that government should reflect the people it serves — in values, vision, and voice,” said Amiwala. “Illinois’ 9th District deserves leadership that mirrors its community — diverse, hard-working, and ready for bold change. I’m running to build a government that listens to its people, makes every voice heard, and delivers real results.”

A fair wage for all workers, Medicare for All, environmental justice, reproductive freedom, student loan relief, and a foreign policy centered on peace and human rights are all part of Amiwala's program. In addition to mobilizing young voters, communities of color, and working people who have long been left out of the political discourse, her campaign seeks to forge connections across the various communities that comprise IL-9's unique variety.
Amiwala is no stranger to the national spotlight. She has been featured in TIME, Glamour, and PBS documentaries, and has delivered keynotes across the country as a speaker and thought leader.

“This moment demands courage. We know that special interest groups will bring millions into this race to set us back decades,” Amiwala added. “The stakes are high, as always, to decide politics.”