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'''Ilhan Omar''' (born 1982) is a [[Somali Americans|Somali-American]] politician from [[Minnesota]]. In 2016, she was elected a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives election, 2016|Minnesota House of Representatives]], making her the first Somali-American Muslim legislator elected to office in the United States.<ref name="Fsaml"/> She is the Director of Policy and Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network.
'''Ilhan Omar''' (born 1982) is a [[Somali Americans|Somali-American]] politician from [[Minnesota]]. In 2016, she was elected a [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives election, 2016|Minnesota House of Representatives]], making her the first Somali-American Muslim legislator elected to office in the United States.<ref name="Fsaml"/> She is the Director of Policy and Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network.

On November 16, 2012, Omar tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/269488770066313216|title=Twitter|website=mobile.twitter.com|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref> This caused many to claim that her [[anti-Israel]] positions border on [[antisemitism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.breitbart.com/2018-elections/2018/06/11/ilhan-omar-minnesota-governor-endorses-muslim-candidate-despite-radical-rhetoric-marital-confusion/|title=Minnesota Governor Endorses Ilhan Omar Despite Radical Rhetoric, Marital Confusion {{!}} Breitbart|last=News|first=Breitbart|date=2018-06-11|work=Breitbart|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://alphanewsmn.com/keith-ellison-ilhan-omar-clear-and-present-dangers/|title=Keith Ellison & Ilhan Omar: Clear And Present Dangers - Alpha News|date=2018-06-10|work=Alpha News|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishinsider.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df4304ea8a37a7ef335a5fb1b&id=bc631b5083&e=b96226c0e7|title=As Keith Ellison Leaves Congress, One Likely Replacement Faces Criticism for Anti-Israel Views – Tablet Magazine|website=jewishinsider.us5.list-manage.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/jewish-insider-s-daily-kickoff-june-7-2018-1.6157884|title=Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff: June 8, 2018|date=2018-06-07|work=Haaretz|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}}</ref>


On June 5, 2018, she filed to run for representative of [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district]] after [[Keith Ellison|Representative Keith Ellison]] announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Potter |first1=Kyle |title=Nation’s 1st Somali-American lawmaker eyes seat in Congress |url=https://www.apnews.com/c18cd0eec60243ed9e776b46ea8921a2/Nation's-1st-Somali-American-lawmaker-eyes-seat-in-Congress |accessdate=8 June 2018 |work=Associated Press |date=5 June 2018}}</ref>
On June 5, 2018, she filed to run for representative of [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district]] after [[Keith Ellison|Representative Keith Ellison]] announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Potter |first1=Kyle |title=Nation’s 1st Somali-American lawmaker eyes seat in Congress |url=https://www.apnews.com/c18cd0eec60243ed9e776b46ea8921a2/Nation's-1st-Somali-American-lawmaker-eyes-seat-in-Congress |accessdate=8 June 2018 |work=Associated Press |date=5 June 2018}}</ref>
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==Early career==
==Early career==
[[File:Ilhan Omar 02.jpg|thumb|Omar speaking at a [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|Hillary Clinton presidential campaign]] rally in 2016]]
[[File:Ilhan Omar 02.jpg|thumb|Omar speaking at a [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016|Hillary Clinton presidential campaign]] rally in 2016]]
Omar began her professional career as a Community Nutrition Educator with the [[University of Minnesota]]. She worked in this capacity from 2006 to 2009 in the Greater [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] Area. In 2012, Omar served as the Campaign Manager for [[Kari Dziedzic]]'s reelection campaign for the [[Minnesota State Senate]]. Between 2012 and 2013, she was a Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator with the [[Minnesota Department of Education]].<ref name="Liilom"/>
Omar began her professional career as a Community Nutrition Educator with the [[University of Minnesota]]. She worked in this capacity from 2006 to 2009 in the Greater [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] Area. In 2012, Omar served as the Campaign Manager for [[Kari Dziedzic]]'s reelection campaign for the [[Minnesota State Senate]]. Between 2012 and 2013, she was a Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator with the [[Minnesota Department of Education]].<ref name="Liilom"/>

In November 2012, in response to the [[March 2012 Gaza–Israel clashes]], Omar tweeted that "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/269488770066313216|title=Twitter|website=mobile.twitter.com|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref><ref name="JITablet">{{Cite web|url=https://jewishinsider.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=df4304ea8a37a7ef335a5fb1b&id=bc631b5083&e=b96226c0e7|title=As Keith Ellison Leaves Congress, One Likely Replacement Faces Criticism for Anti-Israel Views – Tablet Magazine|website=jewishinsider.us5.list-manage.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref> This prompted writers for the periodicals ''Alpha News'',<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://alphanewsmn.com/keith-ellison-ilhan-omar-clear-and-present-dangers/|title=Keith Ellison & Ilhan Omar: Clear And Present Dangers - Alpha News|date=2018-06-10|work=Alpha News|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]]'',<ref name="JITablet"/> and ''[[Breitbart News|Breibart]]'' to claim that her [[anti-Israel]] positions bordered on [[antisemitism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.breitbart.com/2018-elections/2018/06/11/ilhan-omar-minnesota-governor-endorses-muslim-candidate-despite-radical-rhetoric-marital-confusion/|title=Minnesota Governor Endorses Ilhan Omar Despite Radical Rhetoric, Marital Confusion {{!}} Breitbart|last=News|first=Breitbart|date=2018-06-11|work=Breitbart|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en-US}}</ref> According to ''Tablet'', when confronted with these accusations, Omar defended the tweet by explaining that "drawing attention to the apartheid Israeli regime is far from hating Jews."<ref name="JITablet"/> Additionally, ''[[Haaretz]]'' reported that Omar had once also recommended that the University of Minnesota should divest from bonds belonging to the State of Israel and spoke out passionately against the anti-[[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] law on the Minnesota State Senate floor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/jewish-insider-s-daily-kickoff-june-7-2018-1.6157884|title=Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff: June 8, 2018|date=2018-06-07|work=Haaretz|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}}</ref>


Omar later managed [[Andrew Johnson (Minnesota politician)|Andrew Johnson]]'s municipal election campaign, as he ran for a municipal seat in Minneapolis' ward 12 in 2013. Following Johnson's election to the [[Minneapolis City Council]], Omar served as the Senior Policy Aide in his office from 2013 to 2015.<ref name="Liilom"/> During a contentious precinct caucus that turned violent in February 2014, she was attacked by five people and incurred some injuries.<ref name="Mileg"/> According to the ''[[MinnPost]]'', the day before the caucus, [[Minneapolis City Council]] member [[Abdi Warsame]] had told Johnson to warn Omar to not attend the meeting or there could be trouble for her.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nord|first1=James|last2=Bierschbach|first2=Briana|title=Allegations of threats, bullying follow Cedar-Riverside caucus brawl|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2014/02/allegations-threats-bullying-follow-cedar-riverside-caucus-brawl|work=MinnPost|date=February 18, 2014|location=Minneapolis|access-date=July 14, 2017}}</ref>
Omar later managed [[Andrew Johnson (Minnesota politician)|Andrew Johnson]]'s municipal election campaign, as he ran for a municipal seat in Minneapolis' ward 12 in 2013. Following Johnson's election to the [[Minneapolis City Council]], Omar served as the Senior Policy Aide in his office from 2013 to 2015.<ref name="Liilom"/> During a contentious precinct caucus that turned violent in February 2014, she was attacked by five people and incurred some injuries.<ref name="Mileg"/> According to the ''[[MinnPost]]'', the day before the caucus, [[Minneapolis City Council]] member [[Abdi Warsame]] had told Johnson to warn Omar to not attend the meeting or there could be trouble for her.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nord|first1=James|last2=Bierschbach|first2=Briana|title=Allegations of threats, bullying follow Cedar-Riverside caucus brawl|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2014/02/allegations-threats-bullying-follow-cedar-riverside-caucus-brawl|work=MinnPost|date=February 18, 2014|location=Minneapolis|access-date=July 14, 2017}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:22, 13 June 2018

Ilhan Omar
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 60B district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded byPhyllis Kahn
Personal details
Born1982 (age 41–42)
Mogadishu, Somalia
Political partyDemocratic
Domestic partnerAhmed Hirsi
Children3
EducationNorth Dakota State University (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Ilhan Omar (born 1982) is a Somali-American politician from Minnesota. In 2016, she was elected a Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, making her the first Somali-American Muslim legislator elected to office in the United States.[1] She is the Director of Policy and Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network.

On November 16, 2012, Omar tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel.”[2] This caused many to claim that her anti-Israel positions border on antisemitism.[3][4][5][6]

On June 5, 2018, she filed to run for representative of Minnesota's 5th congressional district after Representative Keith Ellison announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress.[7]

Early life and education

Ilhan Omar was born in 1982,[8] in Mogadishu and was raised in Baydhabo, Somalia.[9][10] She was the youngest of seven siblings, and grew up in an upper-middle-class household. Ilhan's father, Nur Omar Mohamed, is Somali, and worked as a teacher trainer.[11] Her mother was Yemeni, and died when Omar was a child.[12] She was thereafter raised by her father and grandfather.[13] Ilhan's grandfather, Abukar, was the director of Somalia's National Marine Transport, with her uncles and aunts also working as civil servants and educators.[11] After the start of the civil war in 1991, she and her family fled the country and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya.[14]

In 1995, Omar and her family emigrated to the United States, initially settling in Arlington, Virginia.[15] In 1995, they moved to Minneapolis, where Ilhan quickly learned English in only three months. Her father and grandfather inculcated in her the importance of democracy. She also began to accompany her grandfather to caucus meetings at the age of 14 years, serving as his interpreter.[13]

Omar attended Edison High School, and volunteered there as a student organizer.[8] After high school, she attended North Dakota State University, where she participated in the Muslim Student Association.[12] She graduated with bachelor's degrees in political science and international studies.[16]

Omar is a Policy Fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.[16]

Early career

Omar speaking at a Hillary Clinton presidential campaign rally in 2016

Ilhan Omar began her professional career as a Community Nutrition Educator with the University of Minnesota. She worked in this capacity from 2006 to 2009 in the Greater Minneapolis–Saint Paul Area. In 2012, Omar served as the Campaign Manager for Kari Dziedzic's reelection campaign for the Minnesota State Senate. Between 2012 and 2013, she was a Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Education.[16]

Omar later managed Andrew Johnson's municipal election campaign, as he ran for a municipal seat in Minneapolis' ward 12 in 2013. Following Johnson's election to the Minneapolis City Council, Omar served as the Senior Policy Aide in his office from 2013 to 2015.[16] During a contentious precinct caucus that turned violent in February 2014, she was attacked by five people and incurred some injuries.[11] According to the MinnPost, the day before the caucus, Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame had told Johnson to warn Omar to not attend the meeting or there could be trouble for her.[17]

As of September 2015, Omar is the Director of Policy & Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network.[16] The association advocates for women from East Africa to take on civic and political leadership roles.[18]

Omar's volunteer experience and areas of interest include politics, education, civil rights and social action, poverty alleviation, human rights, environmental issues, animal welfare, and economic empowerment.[16] She supports a $15 per hour minimum wage. With regard to scholastic affordability, she advocates free tuition for students with a family income below $125,000 as well as greater accessibility to student loan forgiveness programs.[19]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Elections

Omar at a Minnesota House DFL press conference in 2017

In 2016, Omar presented herself as a legislative candidate on the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) ticket for the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her chief opponent in the general election was Republican Party nominee Abdimalik Askar, also an activist in the Somali-American community. In late August, Askar announced his withdrawal from the campaign due to the death of his father and graduate studies.[20]

On August 9, 2016, Omar defeated Phyllis Kahn and Mohamud Noor in the DFL primary to become the nominee for the 2016 Minnesota House of Representatives election in district 60B.[21] Shortly after she secured the DFL party nomination, the conservative blog Power Line questioned the legal status of her marriage vows and wedding license.[22] According to her colleague Andrew Johnson, the timing of the story suggested that the motive was to diminish her image. Omar herself speculated that the allegations were planted by previously elected officials within her community and singled out Abdi Warsame, suggesting that he felt threatened by her growing political clout.[11]

In November 2016, Omar won the general election, becoming the first Somali-American legislator in the United States.[1] She officially began her term in the Minnesota House of Representatives on January 3, 2017.[23]

Tenure

As of September 2017, Rep. Omar has authored 25 bills[24] and co-authored 166 bills.[25]

Rep. Omar is currently the Assistant Minority Leader.

Committee assignments

  • Civil Law & Data Practices Policy
  • Higher Education & Career Readiness Policy & Finance
  • State Government Finance[26]

Awards

In 2014, Omar was named a rising star in the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party's Women's Hall of Fame.[16]

She was also presented the 2015 Community Leadership Award at the African Awards by Mshale, an African immigrant media outlet based in Minneapolis. The prize is annually awarded on a readership basis.[27]

Time Magazine named Omar among its "Firsts: Women who are changing the world", a special project on 46 women who have broken barriers in their respective disciplines, and featured her on the cover of its September 18 issue to mark the panel.[28]

Personal life

Omar is Muslim.[18]

In 2002, at the age of 19 years, she began a relationship with Ahmed Hirsi (né Ahmed Aden). They were engaged to be married that year and applied for a marriage license, but the application was never finalized. The pair had three children together, before separating in 2008. In 2009, Omar wed Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. The couple had a faith-based divorce in 2011, and as of 2016, they are reportedly in the process of legally divorcing. In 2011, Omar reconciled with Hirsi and they were married in a traditional ceremony.[22] She, Hirsi (whom she refers to as her husband), and their three children live in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b Blair, Olivia (November 9, 2016). "Ilhan Omar: Former refugee is elected as America's first Somali-American Muslim woman legislator". The Independent. London. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  2. ^ "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  3. ^ News, Breitbart (June 11, 2018). "Minnesota Governor Endorses Ilhan Omar Despite Radical Rhetoric, Marital Confusion | Breitbart". Breitbart. Retrieved June 11, 2018. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "Keith Ellison & Ilhan Omar: Clear And Present Dangers - Alpha News". Alpha News. June 10, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "As Keith Ellison Leaves Congress, One Likely Replacement Faces Criticism for Anti-Israel Views – Tablet Magazine". jewishinsider.us5.list-manage.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "Jewish Insider's Daily Kickoff: June 8, 2018". Haaretz. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  7. ^ Potter, Kyle (June 5, 2018). "Nation's 1st Somali-American lawmaker eyes seat in Congress". Associated Press. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Duarte, Lorena (October 21, 2015). "'Done Wishing': Ilhan Omar on why she's running for House District 60B". MinnPost. Minneapolis. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  9. ^ Reinl, James (November 15, 2016). "Ilhan Omar: First female Somali American lawmaker". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  10. ^ Omar, Ilhan (June 16, 2016). "Questions from a 5th grader". Neighbors for Ilhan. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d Zurowski, Cory (November 7, 2016). "Ilhan Omar's improbable journey from refugee camp to Minnesota Legislature". City Pages. Minneapolis: Star Tribune Media Company. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Omar, Mahamad (November 1, 2016). "From Refugee to St. House Race, Ilhan Omar Looks to Break New Ground". Arab American Institute. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Holpuch, Amanda (February 29, 2016). "'This is my country': Muslim candidate aims to break boundaries in Minnesota". The Guardian. London. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  14. ^ "Ilhan Omar elected first Somali-American legislator in the US". Al Arabiya English. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  15. ^ Karnowski, Steve (August 10, 2016). "Former Somali refugee poised to win office in Minnesota". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Ilhan Omar". Linkedin. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  17. ^ Nord, James; Bierschbach, Briana (February 18, 2014). "Allegations of threats, bullying follow Cedar-Riverside caucus brawl". MinnPost. Minneapolis. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  18. ^ a b c "Bio - Ilhan for State Representative - 60B". Ilhan Omar. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  19. ^ Faircloth, Ryan (August 24, 2016). "Debate spotlights veteran, newcomers". Minnesota Daily. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  20. ^ Sawyer, Liz (August 27, 2016). "GOP state House candidate to suspend campaign against Ilhan Omar". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  21. ^ Coolican, J. Patrick; Klecker, Mara (August 10, 2016). "Ilhan Omar makes history with victory over long-serving Rep. Phyllis Kahn". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "DFL candidate Ilhan Omar explains marital history in statement". Fox9. August 17, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  23. ^ Lopez, Ricardo (January 4, 2017). "Dayton, legislators kick off session in newly refurbished Capitol". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  24. ^ "Minnesota Legislature - Office of the Revisor of Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov.
  25. ^ "Minnesota Legislature - Office of the Revisor of Statutes". www.revisor.mn.gov.
  26. ^ "Ilhan Omar (DFL) 60B - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us.
  27. ^ Mugo, Kari (October 23, 2015). "African diaspora shines at the African Awards Gala". Mshale. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  28. ^ "Minneapolis Rep. Ilhan Omar featured on Time Magazine cover". TwinCities. September 7, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
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