Farooqi wins Democratic primary for state House District 57

MADISON HEIGHTS/STERLING HEIGHTS/TROY — In the primary election Aug. 2, Aisha Farooqi won the Democratic nomination for the 57th District of the Michigan House of Representatives, prevailing over Marcia Squier.         

According to totals from the state, Farooqi received 3,845 votes overall to Squier’s 3,113. Unofficial results showed Squire narrowly won in Macomb County, where she received 1,898 votes to Farooqi’s 1,794, but it wasn’t enough.        

“I would like to congratulate my opponent, and thank all of my voters and supporters!” Squier said in an email. “You mean the world to me, and I am looking forward to a brighter future.”

Farooqi said that she is honored to be the Democratic nominee.

“Thank you to the voters who exercised their right to vote in the primary election yesterday. I promise that I will fight hard to win the general election in November, and work tirelessly to represent our amazing community,” Farooqi said in an email. “Thank you to my mighty grassroots campaign volunteers. Your dedication to this campaign and your belief in me is humbling and inspiring.

“District 57 deserves to have a leader who will fight for policies that will help us all, and I am ready to do that,” she continued. “I want to thank my primary opponent for a well-fought race. It is my goal to build a broad coalition to ensure that District 57 is properly represented!”

Republican Thomas E. Kuhn was unopposed in the primary.

The district includes parts of Madison Heights, Troy and Sterling Heights. The race in the general election will be for one two-year term. State representatives earn a salary of $71,685.      

Farooqi, 38, is an attorney who has lived in Sterling Heights for 21 years. She earned her law degree at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. She also has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. She is new to politics.

She previously stated that her top goals include economic development and good-paying jobs, improving infrastructure and access to public education, investments in community safety initiatives, and protecting drinking water and the environment.