Sadaf Jaffer is New Jersey’s very first mayor of South Asian origin. A Muslim and daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Jaffer was inspired to run for office because she did not feel her political perspectives were being well-represented in her home city, and thought that she could offer a fresh ideas as a woman and ethnic and religious minority. She hopes that her election – and the election of other Muslim and South Asian candidates – will inspire others to get involved in politics, especially women, saying, “Our voices are valuable because we bring really important perspectives… We need to take our seat of power at the table.”
