Yassamin Ansari

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Yassamin Ansari
Member of the Phoenix City Council
from the 7th district
In office
April 19, 2021 – March 28, 2024
Preceded byMichael Nowakowski
Succeeded byCarlos Galindo-Elvira
Personal details
Born (1992-04-07) April 7, 1992 (age 32)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationStanford University (BA)
St. John's College, Cambridge (MPhil)

Yassamin Ansari (born April 7, 1992)[1] is an American climate policy leader and politician who served on the Phoenix City Council from 2021 to 2024.[2][3][4] At the time of her election, she was the youngest person to be elected to the council and the first Iranian American elected to public office in Arizona.[1]

Early activities

Ansari was born April 7, 1992, to parents who immigrated to the United States from Iran.[1][5] In high school, she organized with the Arizona Democratic Party in support of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and worked with her mother to tutor Somali refugees.[5] Ansari attended Stanford University, and received a bachelor's degree in international relations.[5][6] During college, Ansari interned for Nancy Pelosi.[7][8] After graduating, she was selected for The John Gardner Fellowship Program and started working in the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.[8] She worked as a senior policy advisor with Ki-moon, spending a year working on the Paris Agreement, and later worked in the same role with Ki-moon's successor, António Guterres.[2][6] She started working towards a master's degree in international relations and politics from St. John's College, Cambridge in 2016, which she ultimately received.[6][8][9] She continued to be involved in promoting climate action, helping plan the Climate Action 2016 Summit, the Global Climate Action Summit, and the first U.N. Youth Climate Summit.[10][11][12]

Personal life

Ansari Ansari is a former U.N. policy staffer.[13]

Ansari has been described as a millionaire landlord. Ansari has said “I don't consider myself a millionaire” but reported well above $1 million in assets on a financial disclosure. Her father loaned her between $250,000 and $500,000 “for condo payment,” according to the disclosure.[14] Ansari's financial disclosures from October 2023 showed that she owns two properties in downtown Phoenix and made between $15,000 and $50,000 in 2023 by renting one. Ansari also estimated in the disclosure that her assets were worth between $2.5 million and $8.3 million.[15]

Political career

Phoenix City Council

Ansari ran in a November 2020 election to fill the seat vacated by Michael Nowakowski, representing Phoenix's 7th District.[16] The top two of the five contenders in the general election, Ansari and Cinthia Estela, continued to a runoff election that took place on March 9, 2021.[7][16] Ansari took office as a council member on April 19, 2021.[17]

While in office, she created an Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.[18] It has sought to plant trees, reduce pavement heat absorption, educate residents, and distribute resources including water.[19] She helped develop a plan to promote use of electric vehicles, and advocated for the city to purchase hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric public buses.[20][21] She attended the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference with Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego, as well as the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference.[10][22][23]

Along with other Phoenix City Council members, Ansari was criticized in 2022 for using a suite at Footprint Center, a sports venue owned by the city, to watch games and concerts; following the criticism, the council voted to review its economic development efforts and consider leasing out the suite.[24][25]

Ansari resigned her City Council seat on March 28, 2024, to focus on her congressional campaign.[26] Former Hayden Mayor Carlos Galindo-Elvira was appointed to fill the remainder of her term.[27]

Candidacy for US House of Representatives

See also: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 3

At the beginning of February 2023, journalists reported that Ansari was a potential contender for Arizona's 3rd congressional district.[28][29] On April 4 of that year, she announced her candidacy.[1][30] She is running as a Democrat and led early fundraising in the race.[4][31][32][33] In September 2023, Axios reported that Ansari and Raquel Terán would likely dominate the race.[34] Ansari raised over $325,000 in the first quarter of 2024, bringing her total raised to more than $1.35M.[35]

Ansari faced criticism for taking "hundreds of thousands of dollars from MAGA donors who have bankrolled Donald Trump and anti-abortion extremists," which if accurate would amount to about 14% of Ansari’s total campaign receipts.[36]

Political positions

Ansari has advocated for climate action and sustainability efforts.[10] Ansari has expressed support for unions and LGBT rights.[37][38] She has also supported expanding temporary and affordable housing options to help address homelessness in Phoenix.[39]

Ansari had been endorsed by the political arm of the pro-Israel advocacy group, Democratic Majority for Israel. [40]

Awards and honors

In 2019, Ansari was selected for the Grist 50, an annual list of people taking environmental action.[11] In 2020, Ansari was selected for the Forbes 30 under 30: Policy and Law list.[6]

Electoral history

2020 Phoenix City Council District 7 Election

November 3, 2020 General Election[41]
Candidate Votes %
Cinthia Estela 15,929 32.33
Yassamin Ansari 15,813 32.09
Francisca Montoya 8,897 18.06
G. Grayson Flunoy 4,301 8.73
Susan Mercado-Gudino 4,051 8.22
Write-in 282 0.57
Total votes 49,272 100.00

2021 Phoenix City Council District 7 Runoff Election

March 9, 2021 Runoff Election[42]
Candidate Votes %
Yassamin Ansari 7,850 58.33
Cinthia Estela 5,609 41.67
Total votes 13,459 100.0

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kavaler, Tara (April 4, 2023). "Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari running for Congress". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  2. ^ a b "Phoenix City Council chooses vice mayor for 2023". The Daily Independent at YourValley.net. January 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  3. ^ "City Council District 7 Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari". www.phoenix.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  4. ^ a b Fernandez, Madison (2023-08-21). "What to expect when you're expecting (to miss the first debate)". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  5. ^ a b c Siddiqui, Daniya (2023-08-16). "From councilwoman to congressional campaign: Vice mayor Yassamin Ansari's political journey". High School Insider. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  6. ^ a b c d "Yassamin Ansari". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  7. ^ a b Fifield, Jen; Taros, Megan (February 11, 2021). "Southwest Phoenix will decide a critical District 7 City Council race. Voting begins this week". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  8. ^ a b c Fifield, Jen. "Phoenix City Council's District 7 contenders Yassamin Ansari, Cinthia Estela talk experiences, respond to critics". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  9. ^ Thompson, Claire (2021-06-15). "Why this U.N. climate expert ran for city council". Fix. Grist. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  10. ^ a b c Wu, Jack (2023-03-23). "Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari leads charge against climate change". Cronkite News - Arizona PBS. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  11. ^ a b "Grist 50: 2019 Archives". Grist. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  12. ^ Barrón, Alicia (November 12, 2020). "This UN Climate Advisor Worked on Global Policy. Now She Wants to Help Phoenix. - The Copper Courier". The Copper Courier. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  13. ^ "Arizona Democrat primaries set stage for November election". Arizona Republic. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  14. ^ Gersony, Laura. "Raquel Terán attacks Yassamin Ansari as a 'millionaire landlord' in congressional debate". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  15. ^ L'Heureux, T. J. "Wonk vs. Fighter: The progressive clash for Ruben Gallego's House seat". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  16. ^ a b "2 Phoenix City Council seats up for grabs Tuesday in runoff election". KTAR.com. 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  17. ^ Estes, Christina (2021-04-19). "Phoenix Mayor, 4 City Council Members Sworn In Monday". KJZZ. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  18. ^ Loewe, Emma (2023-01-24). "Can cities eliminate heat-related deaths in a warming world? Phoenix is trying". Grist. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  19. ^ Caldwell, Alicia; Carlton, Jim. "Phoenix Tries to Keep Residents Cool as Heat-Related Deaths Soar in Arizona". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  20. ^ Astor, Maggie (2022-07-01). "As Federal Climate-Fighting Tools Are Taken Away, Cities and States Step Up". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  21. ^ Rivera, SuElen (2022-08-19). "Phoenix granted $16.3M for public transit buses, infrastructure". KTAR.com. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  22. ^ Syed, Zayna. "As cities take the lead in climate action, Phoenix leaders will attend Glasgow conference". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  23. ^ Alam, Adnan (2022-01-07). "Here's what you need to know about Phoenix's Climate Action Plan". Cronkite News - Arizona PBS. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  24. ^ Boehm, Jessica (2022-12-19). "Phoenix council members used city suite to watch NBA Finals, concerts". Axios. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  25. ^ Boehm, Jessica (2023-02-16). "Phoenix may ban council members from using Footprint Center suite". Axios. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  26. ^ Hahne, Greg (March 18, 2024). "Yassamin Ansari to resign from Phoenix City Council, focus on run for Congress". KJZZ. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  27. ^ Seely, Taylor (April 9, 2024). "Phoenix swears in new councilmember, former DeConcini aide and Chicanos por la Causa man". Arizona Republic. Retrieved April 10, 2024.>
  28. ^ Duda, Jeremy (2023-01-24). "Democratic primary for open House seat left by Gallego's Senate run could get crowded". Axios. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  29. ^ "Journalist's Roundtable: Ruben Gallego runs for Senate". Arizona PBS. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  30. ^ "Phoenix Vice Mayor Ansari announces run for Congress". The Daily Independent at YourValley.net. April 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
  31. ^ Irwin, Lauren (2023-07-24). "Open, targeted House seats drive fundraising as numerous hopefuls line up". Cronkite News. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  32. ^ Feinberg, Allie (August 11, 2023). "Ylenia Aguilar has suspended her congressional campaign for Rep. Ruben Gallego's seat". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  33. ^ Gibson, Brittany (2023-07-25). "Progressive Working Families Party backs candidate to replace Rep. Ruben Gallego". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  34. ^ Duda, Jeremy (August 29, 2023). "Ansari and Terán likely to dominate CD3 race following Pastor's departure". Axios. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  35. ^ "ANSARI, YASSAMIN - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  36. ^ Gersony, Laura. "Raquel Terán attacks Yassamin Ansari as a 'millionaire landlord' in congressional debate". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  37. ^ "Leaders Applaud the President's State of the Union Address". The White House. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  38. ^ Estes, Christina (2021-10-21). "Phoenix Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari hosts first LGBTQ+ block party". KJZZ. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  39. ^ Lum, Justin (2022-05-25). "'City of a Thousand': Phoenix councilwoman returns to 'the zone,' optimistic about tackling homeless crisis". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  40. ^ Kassel, Matthew (2024-06-20). "DMFI PAC wades into heated House races in New York, Phoenix, Wisconsin". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  41. ^ "FINAL OFFICIAL RESULTS General Election Maricopa County November 3, 2020" (PDF). Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  42. ^ "City of Phoenix March 9, 2021 Runoff Election Official Results" (PDF). Retrieved February 12, 2023.
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