Yassamin Ansari

Yassamin Ansari
Born	7 4, 1992
Birthplace	Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, climate policy advocate
Title	U.S. Representative from Arizona's 3rd congressional district
Known for	Youngest woman elected to the U.S. Congress (119th), first Iranian American elected to public office in Arizona
Education	Stanford University (BA) St John's College, Cambridge (MPhil)
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Yassamin Ansari (Template:IPAc-en; born April 7, 1992) is an American politician and climate policy advocate serving as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 3rd congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Ansari previously served on the Phoenix City Council representing District 7 from 2021 to 2024. At the time of her election to the Phoenix City Council, she was the youngest person ever elected to that body and the first Iranian American elected to public office in Arizona. During her tenure on the council, she became a prominent voice on climate policy, urban heat mitigation, and homelessness, helping to shape Phoenix's environmental agenda during a period of record-breaking temperatures. In 2024, Ansari was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to succeed Ruben Gallego, who vacated the seat to run successfully for the United States Senate. Upon taking office in January 2025, Ansari became the youngest female member of the 119th United States Congress. In Congress, she has focused on immigration oversight, climate legislation, and advocacy for Iranian American communities.

Early Life

Yassamin Ansari was born on April 7, 1992, in Seattle, Washington. She is of Iranian descent and has publicly identified as a member of the Iranian American community, a background that has informed aspects of her political advocacy, particularly regarding immigration policy and civil rights for diaspora communities.

Before entering elected office, Ansari built a career centered on climate policy and sustainability. She was recognized by Grist magazine as one of its "Grist 50" emerging leaders in sustainability in 2019, a list that highlights individuals working on environmental solutions across various sectors. She was also profiled by Forbes for her work in climate advocacy and public service.

Ansari's path from climate policy work to elected office reflected a broader trajectory among younger political figures who entered government with backgrounds in environmental advocacy rather than through traditional legal or political careers. Her early professional experience included work related to international climate negotiations and sustainability policy, which she later leveraged during her campaigns and her service on the Phoenix City Council.

Education

Ansari earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University. She subsequently pursued graduate studies in the United Kingdom, receiving a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) from St John's College, University of Cambridge. Her academic training informed her subsequent career in climate policy and international sustainability efforts.

Career

Phoenix City Council (2021–2024)

Election

In the 2021 Phoenix City Council elections, Ansari ran for the District 7 seat being vacated by Michael Nowakowski. She competed against Cinthia Estela in the race. The contest was one of two Phoenix City Council seats on the ballot that year. Ansari won the election, as reflected in the official city election results. At the time of her election, she was the youngest person to serve on the Phoenix City Council and the first Iranian American to hold elected office in Arizona.

Ansari was sworn in alongside other newly elected council members in a ceremony covered by local media.

Climate Policy and Heat Mitigation

Climate policy became a central pillar of Ansari's work on the Phoenix City Council. Phoenix, one of the fastest-warming cities in the United States, experienced escalating heat-related deaths during Ansari's tenure, a crisis that drew national attention. Ansari played a role in advancing the city's climate action plan, which addressed greenhouse gas emissions, urban heat, and drought resilience.

A significant component of her environmental work was her advocacy for the establishment of a heat equity office in Phoenix. The city's creation of such an office, one of the first of its kind in the nation, was covered by Grist and other media outlets as a model for other municipalities grappling with extreme heat. The Wall Street Journal reported on Phoenix's broader efforts to keep residents cool as heat-related deaths soared, initiatives in which Ansari was involved as a council member.

In October 2021, Ansari attended the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, alongside Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Their attendance underscored Phoenix's engagement with international climate diplomacy at the municipal level. Ansari's trajectory from international climate policy to local governance was profiled by Grist, which described her path from the Paris climate negotiations to the Phoenix City Council.

Homelessness and Community Issues

In addition to climate work, Ansari addressed homelessness as a city council member. Phoenix, like many large western cities, experienced a growing unsheltered population during this period. Local media covered Ansari's engagement with the issue, including her stated optimism about tackling the crisis through a combination of city resources and community partnerships.

Ansari also hosted community events in her district, including what was described as the first LGBTQ+ block party organized by a Phoenix City Council member, signaling her support for the city's LGBTQ+ community.

Vice Mayor and Ethics Controversy

In 2023, the Phoenix City Council selected Ansari as vice mayor, a rotating ceremonial position among council members.

During this period, a controversy arose regarding the use of a city council suite at Footprint Center (the arena that serves as the home of the Phoenix Suns). Axios Phoenix reported on the ethics questions surrounding the suite, which was available to council members for personal use. Following public scrutiny, the council moved to ban the use of the suite, a step reported by Axios in February 2023.

2024 Congressional Campaign

When Representative Ruben Gallego announced his campaign for the United States Senate in January 2023, his decision opened Arizona's 3rd congressional district seat, prompting a crowded Democratic primary. Ansari entered the race, leveraging her record on the Phoenix City Council, her climate policy credentials, and her profile as a young progressive leader.

Ansari ultimately won the Democratic primary and the general election in 2024. She resigned from the Phoenix City Council on March 28, 2024, and was succeeded by Carlos Galindo-Elvira as the District 7 representative.

U.S. House of Representatives (2025–present)

Swearing-In and Early Tenure

Ansari took office as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 3rd congressional district on January 3, 2025, succeeding Ruben Gallego. Upon her swearing-in, she became the youngest female member of the 119th Congress.

Immigration and Detention Oversight

A significant focus of Ansari's early congressional tenure has been immigration enforcement oversight and the rights of detainees in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In February 2026, she introduced a trio of bills aimed at curbing funding for ICE and requiring greater oversight of immigration detention facilities. One of the bills, titled the "Drain ICE Act," proposed rescinding certain funding allocations for the agency.

In February 2026, Ansari joined fellow Arizona Democrats in touring the Arizona Repatriation Operations Coordination Center (AROCC), an ICE holding facility in Mesa, Arizona. Following the visit, the delegation described conditions at the facility as "sickening," reporting that detainees were held for days without access to beds, showers, or on-site medical staff.

Also in February 2026, Ansari joined Representatives Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) and Greg Stanton (AZ-04) in demanding transparency regarding a potential immigration detention facility in Marana, Arizona.

Iranian American Advocacy

Ansari has been an advocate for Iranian American communities in Congress. In July 2025, she joined Representative Dave Min (CA-47) in demanding answers from the Trump administration regarding the treatment of Iranian Americans by ICE. In January 2026, Ansari and Min released a joint statement condemning reported plans for deportations to Iran.

Homeland Security and Oversight

In January 2026, Ansari called for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing concerns about immigration enforcement practices under the Trump administration.

As a member of the House Oversight Committee, Ansari participated in congressional investigations, including the deposition of Les Wexner related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Other Legislative Activity

In August 2025, Ansari joined Representatives Robert Garcia (CA-42), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) in issuing a statement regarding updates in the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a high-profile deportation case that drew congressional attention.

Personal Life

Ansari is of Iranian American heritage and was born in Seattle, Washington. She has publicly discussed the influence of her Iranian background on her political identity, particularly in the context of immigration policy and the treatment of diaspora communities in the United States. She relocated to Arizona, where she established her political career and represented a district in Phoenix that included significant Latino and working-class communities.

Ansari's advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, including hosting the first LGBTQ+ block party organized by a Phoenix City Council member, has been a public aspect of her civic engagement.

Recognition

Ansari has received recognition for her work in climate policy and public service. In 2019, Grist magazine named her to its annual "Grist 50" list, which highlights emerging leaders working on environmental and sustainability challenges. She has also been profiled by Forbes.

Her election to the Phoenix City Council in 2021 was noted as a historic first on two counts: she was the youngest person elected to that body and the first Iranian American to hold elected office in Arizona. Her subsequent election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024 further extended these milestones, as she became the youngest woman serving in the 119th Congress.

Ansari's work on urban heat mitigation in Phoenix, including the establishment of a municipal heat equity office, received coverage in national outlets including the Wall Street Journal and Grist, positioning Phoenix as a case study for cities confronting extreme heat under climate change.