Summary
Current Position: Consultant advising federal clients
Former Positions: Financial Consultant
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: Senate District 37
Saddam believes in public service, because he has seen the real effects of affordable housing, healthcare, education and community support on his life. The City of Falls Church and Fairfax County helped his family survive and supported him through his education and career.
Today, he wants to give back and serve that community. Help us elect a new kind of leader, who focuses on Virginia’s future and the issues that matter!
Source: Campaign site
OnAir Post: Saddam Azlan Salim
News
In the region’s most notable upset, state Senate candidate Saddam Azlan Salim beat 16-year incumbent Chap Petersen in the July 20 primary, taking the 37th District remapped seat by a decisive 64-36 percent. The son of Bangladeshi immigrants and a Democratic Party leader who was class president at Falls Church High School overperformed in greater Falls Church, where the Fairfax-based Petersen, 55, had not run before last year’s redistricting.
Salim, 33, a financial consultant who raised $188,653 by June, finished in the 60 — 70 percentiles in Falls Church City’s three wards and the precincts of Pimmit, Graham-Greenway, Marshall and Timber Lane.
In a Monday interview with the News-Press, Salim discussed his plans for the November contest against Republican former Loudoun County supervisor Ken Reid. (Until January, the seat will remain filled by retiring Dick Saslaw.)
On his conversation with defeated Petersen: “It was a good call. He congratulated me and wished me good luck, and I thanked him. It may be some time before I reach out for his institutional knowledge and projects he’s working on. It’s my first time running, so I don’t know the formalities. At the end of the day, there were a lot of committees he sat on, so I want to look at the unfinished projects. I will pick up the phone to have a relationship and get advice, but I want to give him a month or two.
FAIRFAX, VA — Saddam Salim, a Noakhali, Bangladesh-born, first generation Bengali-American defeated incumbent Sen. Chap Petersen in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
Salim will be the party’s candidate on the Nov. 7 ballot in 37th District race for the Virginia Senate. He will face Republican Ken Reid, who announced his candidacy in April.
“I am truly humbled by the community that rallied to support me in this race,” Salim said, in a statement issued late Tuesday by his campaign. “This was an incredible grassroots movement of constituents all across the district and we achieved this victory together. I look forward to being your Democratic nominee and continuing our fight for the issues that we care about: gun violence prevention, affordable housing, reproductive rights and so much more.”
With all 50 precincts reporting, Salim received 10,049 votes (53.84 percent) compared to 8,616 (46.16 percent), according to unofficial results reported Wednesday morning by the Virginia Public Access Project and the Associated Press.
About
An Immigrant Story
Saddam Azlan Salim is a first-generation immigrant born in Bangladesh. Growing up, he and his family experienced severe drought followed by the flood of 1998, the most extreme and long-lasting flood of the century in Bangladesh. He saw first-hand the damage caused by natural disasters as an 8-year-old boy.
His father brought his family to America in 2000 so his kids could get a world class education and a better life. Only a year later, his family was evicted because the building they lived in was sold for luxury condos. Homeless on the streets of DC, Saddam watched as his belongings were put out on the side of the road and taken by strangers. At the time, he and his siblings spoke no English so they did not understand what was happening.
Finding a Home in Falls Church
A family friend took them in, and they lived in basements in Falls Church for two years until they were eligible for Fairfax County’s low-income affordable housing program. Both his parents worked minimum wage jobs and relied on public transportation to get to work. Saddam’s father worked his way up from a dishwasher to the chef for more than 20 years at the popular restaurant Haandi Indian Cuisine on West Broad Street.
They were also able to use the community health centers so the family could get the healthcare they needed, including a diagnosis for a reproductive condition his mother had struggled with for many years.
Saddam attended Falls Church High School where he was a track and field athlete, president of his class and a recipient of the John Morris Athletic Scholarship. During his senior year of high school, his mother’s health issues required surgery. Since his parents relied on minimum wage jobs, Saddam stayed back to help his mother, giving up college out of state to instead attend Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University. With the help of community healthcare, his mother’s surgery was a success, but the medical bills were a source of struggle for the family.
While in college, he also went back to serve as assistant coach for track & field at his high school. The affordable education at NVCC and GMU allowed him to get a college education while helping at home and giving back to the community. He graduated from George Mason University in 2012 with Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and went back to GMU for a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in public and non-profit finance.
Saddam Azlan Salim: A Leader on the Rise
During his career Saddam has worked at PenFed Credit Union, Kearney and Company and the United States Institute of Peace as a financial consultant. Today, Saddam works for 11th Hour Service as a Senior Consultant advising federal clients.
Saddam has also been active in his community as a leader of political and business associations. He has served as Co-Chair to the Providence District Democratic Committee and Finance Vice Chair of Fairfax County Democratic Committee. He was the founding member of both API and FCDC Black Caucus. He currently serves as second Vice Chair of the 8th Congressional District Democratic Committee, Vice President of Fairfax Young Democrats, Co-State Director for South Asians for America and is a Board Member of DemBiz Council.
Senate District 37
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Contact
Email: Campaign
Locations
Saddam Salim
P.O. Box 249
Merrifield, VA 22116-0249
Phone: 571-697-7338
Web Links
Issues
Energy & Environment
Take the lead in creating a clean energy economy
Saddam believes Fairfax County and Virginia can be leaders in addressing climate change by building a clean energy infrastructure. From renewable energy development to electrification of offices, vehicles and homes, we can be a model for the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and become a magnet for businesses and industries in this field.
Allow local governments to set clean energy codes
Saddam believes Virginia needs to aggressively pursue and extend clean energy goals for construction and renovations of buildings. He will support efforts to allow localities to opt in to the International Energy Construction Code and Net Zero Code options. Virginia ranks 6th in the nation in taking advantage of new federal funding to improve energy codes. By adopting these codes local governments will improve energy efficiency for buildings and help Virginia to meet 50% of the Virginia Clean Economy Act goals.
Support the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Virginia has benefitted from its membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Efforts by Gov. Glen Youngkin to pull the state out of the RGGI must continue to be opposed. The State Senate helped prevent Youngkin’s attempt to roll back this plan which aids the development of energy efficient low-income housing, addressing coastal resilience and flood disasters. Saddam will be an outspoken voice in support of the RGGI and other measures to gut environmental policies.
Housing
Saddam will fight for the expansion of affordable housing options in our region. He will work to create financial incentives and a more streamlined process for localities to construct additional affordable housing along with more funding for affordable housing projects
Transportation
Saddam understands that we need a multi-modal approach to transportation in our region. In Richmond, he will fight for funding for public transportation and pedestrian/bike safety.
Human Rights
Embracing our diversity and building our community
- Fairfax County is one of the most diverse counties in the nation, providing an opportunity to highlight the engagement and strength diversity can bring to a community. Saddam will use his position as a senator to reflect that strength and value in Richmond and protect it from political efforts to advance racist and sexist agendas.
- Over 400+ bills are moving through state legislatures across the country targeting LGBTQIA+ people. Saddam Salim will oppose all legislation targeting this community and he will fight in Richmond for LGBTQIA+ rights. Saddam wants Virginia to become one of the bricks in the Rainbow Wall defending trans youth and adults.
LGBTQIA Rights Are Under Attack
Over 400+ bills are moving through state legislatures across the country targeting LGBTQIA+ people. Saddam Salim will oppose all legislation targeting this community and he will fight in Richmond for LGBTQIA+ rights. Saddam wants Virginia to become one of the bricks in the Rainbow Wall defending LGBTQIA+ youth and adults.
What is the Rainbow Wall?
Rainbow Wall legislation is aimed at protecting vulnerable LGBTQIA communities – currently 19 states have joined together to try and pass shield legislation through their statehouses. Virginia is not yet one of them, but Saddam Salim wants to start introducing legislation to join the coalition of states dedicated to protecting the LGBQIA+ community from attack.
Protect access to gender affirming care
People have the right to access gender affirming care – if elected Saddam Salim will sponsor legislation codifying that right.
Protect LGBTQIA+ residents from out of state attacks
When other states criminalize gender affirming care, no one who moves here to escape persecution should fear that the Commonwealth will abandon them. Saddam Salim will sponsor legislation that prohibits the enforcement of anti-trans legislation from other states in Virginia.
Be a Leader And An Ally
It’s one thing to vote for or against bills – it’s another thing to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community. Saddam Salim will be there to fight with them and for them to ensure Virginia is a safe haven for everyone.
Reproductive Rights
Guarantee Access to Reproductive Healthcare
Saddam Salim will fight to ensure that everyone has access to their full reproductive rights, including abortion, contraception, pre- and post-natal care, expanded services to bring down maternal mortality, and access to high quality and medically accurate sex education in our public schools.
Medically Accurate Information Matters
Saddam Salim is committed to ensuring that all people are given medically accurate information about their reproductive options – no one should be given manipulative or inaccurate information as a part of accessing care.
Fight Unnecessary Restrictions and TRAP Laws
Saddam Salim opposes any unnecessary restrictions put on information or services in order to limit access. Saddam also opposes using zoning or other methods to close down reproductive healthcare clinics or limit access.
Expand Access to Underserved Areas
It’s not enough just to guarantee access – we need to make sure everyone can get what they need in their own communities. Saddam Salim will fight to expand access to reproductive care across the Commonwealth, especially areas that are traditionally underserved.
Bring Down Maternal Mortality
Saddam Salim will fight to bring down Virginia’s maternal mortality rate, by advocating for best practices and expanded resources in our hospitals and clinics to diagnose and treat the conditions that lead to high mortality. We must respond with emergency care that is cutting edge and able to save lives. Saddam will also advocate for expanded prenatal care resources, especially for women of color, to help support them and reduce mortality outcomes.
Speaking Out for Reproductive Justice
Saddam is committed to fighting for reproductive justice in Virginia, by standing up with advocacy groups, local leaders and community members to speak out about the importance of reproductive healthcare. The time is now for leaders to be visible and outspoken on reproductive justice – both votes and voices matter.
Public Safety
Criminal Justice
Saddam will work to create a more equitable criminal justice system. We still have work to do in Virginia to reform our system and ensure that everyone gets the justice that they deserve.
Gun Violence
Assault Weapons Ban
Saddam Salim will support an assault weapons ban in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In contrast, incumbent Senator Chap Petersen was one of only four Democratic Senators to vote against the Assault Weapons Ban bill in 2020.
Waiting Periods
Saddam Salim will support legislation to add mandatory waiting periods to firearm sales, like HB 2273 that was introduced this year. Currently, both DC and Maryland already have waiting periods, so this legislation will also eliminate a loophole and reduce gun violence across the entire region.
Domestic Abusers
Saddam Salim will support legislation that would strengthen and expand restrictions on domestic abusers from purchasing or owning firearms in the Commonwealth. For example, restrictions should be expanded to ban non-married perpetrators from owning firearms and requiring that law enforcement remove firearms from the scene of a domestic violence incident.
Concealed Carry
Saddam Salim supports increased restrictions on concealed carry and higher penalties for violations of the law.
Safe Storage
Saddam Salim will support legislation to provide training and funding for safe storage. Saddam Salim will also support legislation that would ensure that gun owners are held liable if someone is injured or killed by an improperly stored weapon.
Early Prevention Measures
Saddam Salim will support legislation to invest in communities and demographics with high gun violence rates to intervene and provide support before gun violence occurs. Access to jobs, healthcare, and affordable housing, along with funding for local violence prevention groups can ensure at-risk individuals do not commit gun violence.
Suicides now make up a majority of gun deaths in the United States. Along with other gun-control measures, Saddam Salim will support investments into suicide prevention and mental health programs to help eliminate gun deaths from suicide.
Red Flag Laws
Saddam Salim supports the red flag law passed in 2020 and will work with localities to make sure that they are effectively using the program.
Protecting our Progress
Saddam Salim will fight back against Republicans and the Gun Lobby who are trying to undo legislation passed under the previous administration.
Education
Saddam believes that we need a strong public school system. He will fight for better teacher pay along with proper funding for school resources, facilities, and mental health programs. Saddam will not villainize our teachers or threaten to hold back funding to schools.
