A New Generation of Arab American Politicians: Nadia Milleron

posted on: Feb 25, 2026

By Robert Jackson / Arab America Contributing Writer

Across the country, a new wave of Arab-American leaders is rising. This series explores their stories, motivations, and the futures they are working to build.

Nadia Milleron is an emerging voice in Massachusetts politics. As an attorney and mother, she is running for congress in Massachusetts 1st Congressional district. Much like her famous uncle, Ralph Nader, she is running as an independent. As the third and final part of this series, Arab America spoke with Nadia about her involvement in politics, agenda, and Lebanese ancestry.

What Changed?

“I was an apolitical person seven years ago, I thought politics was a swamp…what I found out unfortunately is that if you have nothing to do with our civic life…then it gets worse.”

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed in 2019, killing all 157 people aboard, including Nadia’s 24-year-old daughter. Boeing had falsely certified the 737 MAX 8 and was not planning to fix the aircraft’s fatal flaw, which had killed 189 people in the previous year in another accident. It was only after her uncle Ralph Nader showed her that the FAA and Boeing weren’t going to act that she stepped up to make sure there wouldn’t be a third crash. She championed the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, which passed unanimously in 2020. After this success, Nadia went to Illinois, where Boeing was headquartered, to continue to fight against Boeing’s criminally dangerous behavior. There, she was able to push punitive damages for wrongful death into law. However, this success was short-lived as Boeing moved their headquarters to Virginia.

Why Run for Congress?

Nadia learned in the worst way possible the consequences of inaction. Her opponent, Rep Richard Neal, has been Massachusetts’s 1st District representative since 1988, a total of 36 years in office. During her fight to pass the Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act, she found Neal less than helpful. 

“He was the least responsive of any of the offices in the House…My own representative was the least responsive.”

In 2024, Neal was running unopposed, and Nadia decided to throw her hat into the ring. He has received campaign donations mainly from corporate PACs, as well as from AIPAC, the Pro-Israel lobby. Despite her lack of election experience, Nadia received 37.3% of the vote in 2024. In 2026, she has a second opponent, Jeromie Whalen, a 37-year-old teacher running for the first time as a democrat.  Although she respects his policies, Nadia believes his lack of experience makes him unfit for such a role and fears he may become a career politician like Neal.

Independent Vision

The 61-year-old Milleron decided to run as an independent in both elections and has no plans to join any party. Nadia made it clear that she believes that corporate funding and a lack of term limits have eroded democracy in the United States.

“This system has corrupted many individuals…the Democratic Party is corrupt; it is funded by big corporations and Israel.”

If elected, she promised she would serve no more than three terms. Nadia’s agenda is not only independent, it is also uncompromising. She wants to do what is best for her constituents, not her party. She wants to ban corporations from participating in the political system.

Lebanese Heritage

Nadia’s grandfather played a big role in his communities in Lebanon and later in America after he moved. He contributed to the construction of sewage systems in both countries through donations. Those values of giving back to one’s community were imparted to Nadia from an early age. At first, Nadia contributed through, among other things, by being a member of the church, homeschooling, and donating vegetables from her farm to people in need.

“I’m still learning from my own family.”

Nadia’s energy and commitment to community is enduring. No matter the challenge, either in squaring off with big business or taking on the political establishment, she is willing to to fight if it means making her community a safer place.

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