On Tuesday night, former Michigan state lawmaker Rashida Tlaib became the first Muslim woman elected to US Congress after winning the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. The news came with waves of shock and euphoria, as Tlaib expressed her excitement on twitter the next morning, “I am at a loss for words. I cannot wait to serve you in Congress.” Due to the absence of any Republican or third-party challengers in the race, she will run unopposed in November and begin her two-year term in January, replacing Rep. John Conyers, 89, who left his position as a result of sexual harassment allegations and health reasons. Tlaib, 42, is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants and the oldest of the fourteen children. She made history in 2008 after being elected as State Representative and became the first Muslim woman to hold this position, later on serving in the Michigan House from 2009 to 2014. She hopes to fight for immigration reform and to raise the minimum wage to $15, as well as providing equal pay for women and preventing cuts to social security. Her decision to run was pushed by…
