Rashida Tlaib

Rashida Tlaib is a lawyer, activist, and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. Born and raised in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents, Tlaib became the first Palestinian American woman elected to Congress and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before serving in Congress, she worked as a public interest attorney and served in the Michigan House of Representatives, where she focused on economic justice, environmental protections, and expanding access to public services.

Known for her outspoken progressive politics, Tlaib has advocated for policies including Medicare for All, affordable housing, labor rights, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform. She has been a strong critic of corporate influence in politics and has consistently emphasized grassroots organizing and community-centered leadership. Tlaib has also become a prominent voice for Palestinian human rights and a ceasefire in Gaza, drawing national attention for her advocacy on foreign policy and civil rights issues.

As a member of the progressive congressional coalition known as “The Squad,” Tlaib has built a reputation for challenging political norms and centering the experiences of working-class communities, immigrants, and marginalized families. Throughout her career, she has framed her work around the belief that government should be accountable to everyday people rather than wealthy donors and corporate interests.