Yassamin Ansari

Yassamin Ansari is a Democratic politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Arizona's 3rd Congressional District, first elected in November 2024 and sworn into office in January 2025. Born in Seattle, Washington, to Iranian immigrant parents, she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Stanford University and a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. Her early career included serving as a senior policy advisor to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, where she was a member of the climate team that worked to deliver the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Before her election to Congress, Ansari served as the Vice Mayor of Phoenix and represented District 7 on the Phoenix City Council. Elected to the council in 2021, she was the youngest person ever elected to the body and the first Iranian American elected to public office in Arizona. During her tenure in municipal government, she was known for spearheading the city’s landmark Climate Action Plan and creating an Office of Heat Response and Mitigation. In the 119th Congress, she serves as the Democratic Freshman Class President and sits on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Oversight Committee. Ansari's legislative focus often centers on climate policy, immigrant rights, and economic equity. As the youngest woman in the 119th Congress, she has positioned herself as a progressive voice for working families and young Arizonans. Her transition from international climate diplomacy to local and then federal governance has been marked by a consistent emphasis on sustainability and civil rights.

Ansari's policy platform is centered on climate action, immigration reform, and social equity. On the environment, she advocates for a transition to renewable energy and has supported legislation to boost geothermal energy production and limit deforestation. In the realm of immigration, she supports the American Dream and Promise Act, opposes restrictive border policies, and has introduced resolutions celebrating the contributions of immigrants. On healthcare, she is a vocal supporter of reproductive rights and has advocated for federal protection of medication abortion access. Her economic positions include raising the federal minimum wage to a living wage and supporting labor unions. Regarding foreign policy, she has expressed opposition to the use of military force against Iran and has supported continued aid for Ukraine. Additionally, she has called for the abolition of ICE following incidents involving detention facility conditions.