NH Woman Who Escaped Taliban Elected To Legislature

CONCORD, NH -- A New Hampshire woman who escaped the Taliban fulfilled her version of the American dream Tuesday, winning a seat in the legislature on Election Day. Democrat Safiya Wazir, 27, was elected state representative representing the capital city of Concord in District 17. She defeated Republican challenger Dennis Soucy by a margin of 907 votes to 718 votes.

"I am grateful for all your support and I’m ready to get to work for Concord," Wazir, a mother of two, tweeted.

Wazir fled Afghanistan when she was a child. She settled in Concord in 2007, graduated from Concord High School then earned her American citizenship in 2013. She worked at Walmart and Goodwill to support her family, according to the Concord Monitor.

Wazir has said affordable housing and schools are among her top priorities.

Wazir was part of a Democratic wave that swept across New Hampshire. Democrats took control of the state legislature and won both congressional races. The blue wave was blocked at the governor's office, as incumbent Republican Chris Sununu was re-elected.

Democratic leaders said voters made their intentions clear at the polls.

"They voted for paid family and medical leave, access to affordable health care, resources to combat the opioid crisis, and to continue supporting our local public schools," Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucy said in a statement. Soucy, of Manchester, was re-elected and expected to become the new Senate president.

New Hampshire made history in another way Tuesday, as they elected their first gay congressional representative in Chris Pappas.

Lead photo credit: Safiya Wazir