Pakistani-American Muslims make history in Cambridge elections

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: For the first time in Cambridge’s history, both the mayor and deputy mayor positions have been won by young Pakistani-Americans.

In the elections held on January 5, 2026, Karachi-born Sumbul Siddiqui was elected mayor of Cambridge for a third consecutive term (2026–2027), while Burhan Azeem from Burewala, Punjab, became the city’s youngest-ever deputy mayor.

Sumbul Siddiqui, a practicing lawyer, has been active in American politics for several years. She was first elected to the Cambridge City Council in 2017 and previously served as mayor twice from 2020 to 2024. Siddiqui is Cambridge’s first Muslim mayor and the first Asian woman to be elected for three consecutive terms in the city’s history.

Burhan Azeem, the son of Professor Munir Chaudhry and an MIT engineering graduate, had previously become Cambridge’s youngest-ever councillor. With his second term as councillor, he now also holds the record as the city’s youngest deputy mayor.

The historic win underscores the growing representation and influence of Pakistani-Americans in US local governance.