Ghaziabad, Nov. 6 -- India-born Democrat Saba Haider has won a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in the November 3 US midterm elections, becoming the first South Asian woman to be elected to the state's General Assembly, marking a moment of pride for her family and the people of her hometown, Ghaziabad.

Haider secured a decisive victory with 21,996 votes, accounting for 71.19 per cent of the total votes polled, defeating Republican candidate Brian Scopa, who received 8,902 votes (28.81 per cent), NBC reported.

Reacting to her victory, Haider's father, Syed Ali Haider, said that hard work, effective communication and the ability to connect with people were key to electoral success.

"In my view, for a hardworking person--ever...