Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the democratic socialist, Palestinian American congresswoman who represents Michigan’s heavily Arab and Muslim 12 Congressional District in the Metro Detroit area, has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza. Along with other Squad members and progressives in Congress, Tlaib has called on Joe Biden to demand a cease-fire.

Program director for Tlaib’s office and fellow Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Layla Taha is running for the Michigan state house, in a special election for the 25 District seat. Taha, who is Lebanese American, has also come out in support of a cease-fire, and her campaign has been endorsed by Tlaib as well as the Detroit chapter of DSA.

If elected, Taha would join State Rep. Dylan Wegela in the state legislature as part of a growing DSA bloc. Taha recently sat down with Jacobin contributor Oren Schweitzer to discuss why she’s running for office, her support for Palestine, and why she believes labor and movement organizing are essential to standing up to corporate interests.