Muslim candidate in California discusses wildfires, inequality

Fatima Iqbal-Zubair is running for the California State Assembly at a time when her state is grappling with increasing frequent wildfires, a cost-of-living crisis, and rampant inequality.

This is her third time running for state legislative office as a Democrat, though this time she is doing so with more experience under her belt and with the title of chair of the California Progressive Caucus.

“The wildfires are a big part of why I’m running,” says Iqbal-Zubair, who has been working on environmental justice for at least a decade, an issue she believes should bring different segments of society together. 

“One thing about climate change is that disasters don’t discriminate,” she tells The New Arab, referring to wealthy residents who lost their homes to the recent wildfires along with those in poorer areas. 

Now, with the wildfires having changed the landscape of southern California in a matter of days, she is more determined than ever to win the upcoming race.

“Last time, I was challenging an incumbent. In 2026, it’s an open seat,” she says. “I’ve been able to build relationships, even with people I disagree with. It’s important to reach out.”

She adds, “It’s important to not just talk to people within our echo chambers. Most people are good.”

Iqbal-Zubair, a longtime resident of southern California, has been building her political career on her work in education in her local community, where she has seen the perils of inequality and opportunities to make changes at the local level.

As an immigrant whose Sri Lankan family fled Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion in the early 1990s, she understands the struggles of working families trying to make ends meet. 

Having worked as a tutor in some of the roughest areas of Los Angeles, she has seen the underbelly of southern California’s inequality, prompting her involvement in community leadership.

She became the leader of a girls’ robotics team, helping open doors for high-performing students from low-income backgrounds.

“I love this district,” Iqbal-Zubair says, referring to the towns that make up the area, which include Watts and Compton. “I’m an immigrant. I’ve been here 15 years, and I’ve seen the potential of this district.”

She says, “They should be represented by someone who is progressive and not wavering.”

For her, sticking with her progressive ideals is key to winning over voters, even as the country shifts rightwards politically. Like many in the left wing of the Democratic Party, Iqbal Zubair believes the Democrats lost the 2024 presidential election because the party leader have become out of touch with regular people

“I launched my race because frankly I’m disappointed by how the Democrats messaged in the last election. They didn’t campaign to the working class. They wavered on Palestine,” she says. 

“I’m running as a Democrat because my district is Democratic, but I’m running as a populist. No one else in the race is running like I am,” she says. 

Based on some of the conversations she’s had with youths in her district, many are disengaged with the political process because they don’t feel represented by either of the two main parties.

It is these very communities she believes need her advocacy, but it will take time to engage communities that have been left behind.