[2] Prior to running for office, Saddam served as the South Asians for America State Co-Director for Virginia with Delegate Kannan Srinivasan.

[3] Saddam was born in Noakhali, Bangladesh and attended Falls Church High School where he was a track and field athlete and president of his class.

During his senior year of high school, his mother's health issues required surgery, and given the financial difficulties his family faced he gave up college out of state instead to attend Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University.

[4] Salim announced his candidacy in 2023 against incumbent Democrat Chap Petersen, who represented the 34th District which had been redistricted to the 37th, since 2011.

Peterson faced several controversies, including his support of Confederate statues,[5] defense of the team name of the Washington Redskins, and breaking with party ranks to defeat an assault weapons ban.