Shama Haider is a Democratic member of the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the Bergen County-based 37th Legislative District since January 11, 2022. In the Assembly, serves as Deputy Majority Leader, Deputy Conference Leader, and Chair of the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee. Born December 20, 1948, in Pakistan, Haider was raised there and attended the University of Punjab, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She served as Secretary to the First Lady of Pakistan Nusrat Bhutto, wife of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, before emigrating to the United States in 1977.

In New Jersey, she settled in Tenafly, Bergen County, where she built a career in the nonprofit sector as a fundraiser and became active in local politics. She was elected to the Tenafly Borough Council in 2001 and again in 2015, serving through 2018, and served as Chair of the Tenafly Environmental Commission, where she initiated the first environmental resource inventory for the borough. Along with Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer, Haider became one of the first two Muslim women elected to the New Jersey Legislature in 2021, and one of the first three Asian American women elected alongside Jaffer and Assemblywoman Ellen Park. She has served as Deputy Majority Leader since 2024 and Deputy Conference Leader since 2025.

Political Career

• New Jersey General Assemblywoman, District 37 (2022–present)
• Deputy Majority Leader (2024–present)
• Deputy Conference Leader (2025–present)
• Chair, Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee (2024–present)
• Member, Assembly Appropriations Committee (2022–present)
• Member, Assembly Health Committee (2022–present)
• Tenafly Borough Council (2001–2003, 2015–2018)
• Chair, Tenafly Environmental Commission (during council tenure)
• Chair, Tenafly Democratic Municipal Committee (during council tenure)

Key Policy Areas

• Children and family services
• Food security and nutrition assistance
• Healthcare access and affordability
• Environmental protection and climate action
• Appropriations and budget oversight
• Affordable housing and childcare

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• One of first two Muslim women elected to New Jersey Legislature (with Sadaf Jaffer) and one of first three Asian American women (with Jaffer and Ellen Park) 
• Chair of Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee since 2024, overseeing policies affecting child welfare, family support programs, and nutrition assistance 
• Served as Secretary to the First Lady of Pakistan prior to emigrating to the United States in 1977 
• Initiated first environmental resource inventory for Tenafly as Chair of the Environmental Commission 
• Campaign platform emphasizes affordability, including expansion of childcare subsidies, universal Pre-K, school meals, and housing supply through local zoning reforms 

Education

• B.S., Biology, University of Punjab, Pakistan 

Personal

• Birth date: December 20, 1948 
• Residence: Tenafly, Bergen County, New Jersey