Nida Allam

Last updated

On November 8, 2021, Allam announced that she would be seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for Congress in North Carolina's newly redrawn 4th Congressional District. [2] If she were elected, she would be the third Muslim woman to serve in Congress, after Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, [27] both of whom endorsed Allam's candidacy. Allam lost the primary to her more moderate opponent by 9 points. [28]

Political views

Allam ran for Durham County Commissioner on a platform centered on addressing economic inequality. Campaign priorities included a $15 minimum wage for county workers, boosting mental health services in schools and investing in businesses run by women and people of color. [29]

She believes that charter schools have increased racial segregation in Durham schools. [12] As a county commissioner, Allam stated she plans to increase the minimum wage of Durham Public Schools classified staff to U.S. $15 an hour and enact property tax assistance programs. [1] [16] [12] She has stated that evictions and lack of affordable housing opportunities are also a crisis in the county, and referenced the issue of gentrification misplacing Black families from their homes in Durham's historical African-American neighborhoods. [1] [12] Allam has also called for more funding and community investment into Durham Public Schools and Durham Technical Community College, saying that education is tied to economic and racial justice issues. [1] Allam supports organized labor unions. [1] She blames the North Carolina General Assembly for inadequate funding for public schools. [12]

Allam has been criticized for her past statements and tweets in regards to Israel that some have seen as Anti-Zionist or anti-Semitic. [30] [28] In 2021, Allam apologized to the Jewish community for her past statements and committed to "a movement for justice and peace, in which anti-Semitism must have no home." [31] While Allam received endorsements in her race from figures like Ilhan Omar, who have been in the past accused of antisemitism, [32] Valerie Foushee, her primary opponent, began to receive funds and assistance from pro-Israel groups such as AIPAC and Sam Bankman-Fried's Protect Our Future PAC, prompting allegations that Foushee's campaign had succeeded primarily due to support from dark money as the race became "the most expensive Democratic congressional primary in North Carolina history". [33]

Personal life

She lives in Durham with her husband, Towqir Aziz, and two dogs named Otis and Nala. [9] [6] She and Aziz met in a Muslim Sunday school. [6] Allam is a member of the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality & Equality. [34] She is a citizen of the United States and Canada, and also holds Pakistani citizenship by descent. [35]

In April 2022, Allam announced that she was pregnant. [36] Allam had been pregnant in 2021, but had an abortion due to medical issues. [37]

Electoral history

Nida Allam
National Night Out 2021 (cropped).jpg
Allam in 2021
Durham County Commissioner
Assumed office
December 7, 2020
2022 North Carolina's 4th congressional district Democratic primary [38]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Valerie Foushee 40,531 46.15
Democratic Nida Allam32,42436.92
Democratic Clay Aiken 6,4697.37
Democratic Ashley Ward4,7305.39
Democratic Richard Watkins III1,1321.29
Democratic Crystal Cavalier1,1041.26
Democratic Stephen Valentine1,0041.14
Democratic Matt Grooms4330.49
Total votes87,827 100.0

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References

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