By Jacob Zinkula
Publication Date: 2026-03-17 08:58:00
Last summer, Bushra Amiwala faced a career-defining choice: stay at Google or quit to run for Congress.
In May, Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who represents Illinois 9th District, announced she would not seek reelection. With the seat open, Amiwala said she began weighing a run, speaking with more than 100 district residents in and around Skokie, where she lives.
As she weighed the decision, Amiwala, 28, said she applied for a six-month unpaid leave of absence from Google. When her request was denied, she said she was left with two options.
“Do I run for this seat and quit my job, or do I stay at Google and…
