United States
Mayor of City Cambridge, MA and City Councilman
Hijri Unknown-Present (AH); Common Era Unknown-Present (CE)
Sumbul Siddiqui is a Pakistani American whose family moved to Cambridge. MA when they received a lottery spot in affordable housing system. Siddiqui graduated from CRLS, Brown University, and Northwestern. At CRLs she co-founded the Cambridge Youth Council as a way for students to engage in city government. Siddiqui and fellow Councilor Alanna Mallon started a podcast in 2018 called “Women Are Here Podcast.” They started this podcast while on the campaign trail and continue to produce new episodes. The podcasts discuss what is happening in Cambridge, from Covid relief to rental relief programs. Siddiqui was serving her second term as Cambridge City Council when she was unanimously elected the first Muslim America mayor in Massachusetts history. The first week after being elected she received Islamophobic messages and insults. She has said that she will continue to advocate for more affordable housing, including preserving 500 adorable housing units, where her family once lived. Siddiqui plans to implement safe-injection sites for individuals struggling with drug addiction, continuing the work of the previous mayor.