Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 4, 1982.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and international studies from North Dakota State University in 2011.[2] Her previous work experience included working as a teacher, as a nonprofit executive, as a staffer for the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minneapolis city council. From 2017 to 2019, Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives.[1]Omar was the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress to represent Minnesota. She was also the first Somali-American elected to the U.S. Congress.[3] Alongside Rashida Tlaib (D), Omar was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.[4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Ilhan Omar–a mother of four, an immigrant, a refugee, and a proud Minnesotan. Since 2019, I have represented Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District in the House of Representatives, fighting to abolish ICE, provide all kids with free school meals, pass Medicare for All, and end corporate greed. Before I was elected to office, I was a nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota, a Humphrey Fellow, and a policy aide for the Minneapolis City Council.

I currently serve on the House Budget Committee and the Education and Workforce Committee. I am the lead Democrat on the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, where I have led the charge on worker safety, protecting employees from AI layoffs, and expanding paid family and medical leave. I am also the Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is advancing some of the most visionary policies that would make life better for millions of Americans: cancelling student loan debt, creating a wealth tax for billionaires, replacing for-profit health insurance with Medicare For All, ending forever wars, and addressing the climate crisis through environmental justice initiatives.

I’m running for reelection to Congress because working people deserve a government that fights for them—not for billionaires or corporate interests.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We must abolish ICE. Minnesotans saw firsthand what a tyrant in the White House can do with an unaccountable paramilitary force. Masked agents roamed our streets, kidnapped our neighbors, and killed American citizens who were exercising their constitutional rights. At least 52 people have died in ICE custody since Trump started his second term, and hundreds of thousands more are being held in squalid conditions in violation of their human rights. The politicization of immigration courts have eroded any semblance of due process or equal protection under the law. There is no reforming an agency that will ignore the Constitution and kill Americans and prevent any meaningful investigation into their deaths. ICE must be abolished.We must make life affordable for Americans. I helped develop the affordability agenda for the Progressive Caucus to lower prescription drug costs, crack down on utility companies that overcharge families, curb excess oil profits, cap child care costs at 7% of income, expand rental assistance, and help first-time homebuyers with $20,000 in down payment assistance. We also need to cancel student debt and make college and trade school tuition-free so the next generation can thrive in a rapidly changing economy. The answer to rising costs is taking on corporate greed and investing in working people.We must end forever wars and build a foreign policy grounded in human rights. No president should be able to launch military attacks without congressional authorization or dismantle congressionally approved foreign aid by executive action. Our foreign policy should serve people—not corporations or special interests. I’m fighting for a just foreign policy where we prioritize diplomacy, public health, human rights, and lasting peace.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about anything that can make life better for people across the country and across the globe. The America that I dreamed of as a child in a refugee camp was so far away from the reality that greeted me when I arrived here. Since then, the American dream has only gotten further and further out of reach for the vast majority of us. Most young people can’t imagine ever paying off their student debt or owning a home. They worry about growing old on a planet that is unsustainable due to climate change. I am so grateful for the opportunities that this country has given me, and my public service has always been about repaying my gratitude to the neighbors and community who helped me make Minnesota home.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Ilhan has been endorsed by Governor Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith, Attorney General Keith Ellison and the majority of the elected officials in across Congressional District 5, as well the Minnesota AFL-CIO, National Nurses United, American Federation of Teachers, National Educators Association, Education Minnesota, numerous other local unions, Sierra Club, Boundary Waters Action Fun, Our Revolution, MN50501, Planned Parenthood Action and Women Winning.

Ilhan Omar did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Ilhan Omar did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Ilhan Omar did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Omar's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

Building an Economy for Everyone:

As a longtime resident of District 60B, I know how effective local hiring practices, prevailing wages for construction work, and labor peace for public contracts can be to build wealth and security into our communities. When we support individual workers, we support families, and we support our neighborhoods. And when we support communities and neighborhoods, we support cities, counties, and our entire state.

Closing the Opportunity Gap:

I support:

Universal Pre-K

Funding to hire more teachers of color

Reforming school disciplinary procedures to reduce suspensions

Helping parents access services so they can better support their children's education

Advancing Equity for All:

I am the only candidate endorsed by OutFront Minnesota Action and Stonewall DFL. I was humbled and honored to be part of our state's historic victories for marriage equality in 2012 and 2013. However, there is still a great deal of work to do in the struggle for LGBT inclusion. Many LGBT community members have endured bullying, homelessness, lack of opportunity, and discrimination. I realize that these struggles are the same struggles many new immigrants face. I understand civil rights issues are human rights issues. Discrimination is harmful no matter who you are; all people deserve respect and equity under the law. I will be a steadfast advocate for all underrepresented communities at the Capitol. It is not our job to judge one another, but to welcome and serve everyone.

I want to help build a world where chances of birth don’t define people’s lives. I want my daughters to be judged not by their gender or skin color, but by their contributions to our community.

I unequivocally support women's reproductive rights and I am the current Vice President of the DFL Feminist Caucus. I have fought my entire life for human rights and as your representative, I will continue that fight.

Making Higher Ed Affordable & Accessible:

As the next Representative for District 60-B, I will work to ensure that our state is sufficiently funding its public colleges and universities. Minnesota's higher education funding has decreased 26 percent since 2008. This is unacceptable in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to support yourself without a college degree. Along with this increased funding, the state needs to start holding administrations accountable for investments that will directly improve the academic experience.

When it comes to addressing the debt already weighing on the young people in Minnesota, I will work to expand programs that provide debt forgiveness for public servants — teachers, nurses, and others — and cap student loan interest at a reasonable and affordable rate.

Protecting Our Environment:

I will advocate for groundwater sustainability, reducing agricultural pollution and enforcing Minnesota's existing buffer laws to reduce farm runoff that pollutes our water.

We also need to reach zero waste by maximizing recycling, composting, and product stewardship. I opposed the expansion of garbage burning at Hennepin Energy Recovery Center. We can find smarter, healthier ways to dispose of our waste.[10]

—Ilhan Omar[11]