Tag: Ilhan Omar

PALESTINIAN & SOMALI -AMERICANS’ : Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar win re-election amid Gaza conflict and US foreign policy debate – November 2024

Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have won re-election and continue their position in American politics after being the first two Muslim women to serve in the United States Congress.

Their victories come amid the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians with diplomatic and military support from Tel Aviv’s key ally, the United States.

Tlaib, who is also the only Palestinian-American woman in US Congress, defeated her Republican opponent on Tuesday for a fourth term as a representative for Michigan with support from the large Arab-American community in Dearborn.

The Associated Press called the race with just 18 percent of the votes counted. Tlaib secured 77 percent of the vote with her opponent receiving 19 percent.

In the days leading up to the election, Tlaib declined to endorse Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for US President. She, however, urged Americans to go to the polls and vote.

Omar, a former refugee and Somali American, won for a third term in Minnesota. She faced Republican challenger Dalia al-Aqidi, an Iraqi-American journalist who describes herself as a “secular Muslim” and called Omar, who is a proponent of Palestinian rights, pro-Hamas.

The congresswoman won 76.4 percent of the vote compared to al-Aqidi’s 23.6 percent, according to the Associated Press, which called the race with 87 percent of the vote counted.

Both Tlaib and Omar have repeatedly spoken against Israel’s war on Gaza followed by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, the ensuing humanitarian crisis and the Biden administration’s stance on the conflict. The two have faced a slew of attacks from pro-Israel groups as well as fellow lawmakers for their remarks.

Tlaib has been a leading voice against America’s military aid to Israel and for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. She was censured by the House last year over rhetoric she used following the Hamas attack

Meanwhile, Omar is a part of an informal group of lawmakers known as the “Squad,” which is made up of progressive members of Congress including Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, among others.

source/content: english/alarabiya.net (headline edited)

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U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) hold a news conference on August 19, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (AFP)

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AMERICAN / PALESTINIAN/ SOMALI

SOMALI-AMERICAN Women Score Wins in US Midterm Elections

At least eight Somali American women won races in Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, results show.

Ilhan Omar, the most prominent Somali American politician, held on to her U.S. House of Representatives seat in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. This will be the third term for Omar, who was first elected in 2018.

In Minnesota state races, Zaynab Mohamed was elected to the Senate, becoming the first woman of Somali descent elected to the chamber, according to MPR News. Meanwhile, Hodan Hassan defended her seat in the state House of Representatives.

Other Somali American women running for offices in Minnesota were victorious, including Fathia Feerayarre, who won a seat on the Minneapolis Public Schools board.

In neighboring North Dakota, Hamida Dakane also made history, becoming the first woman of Somali descent elected to the state House. Born in northeastern Kenya’s Somali region, Dakane, who won Fargo’s District 10, came to the U.S. in 2011.

In Maine, Deqa Dhalac, who made history last year as the first Somali American mayor for a U.S. city, South Portland, has now been elected to the state House after handily defeating Republican opponent Michael Dougherty. Mana Abdi, who was running unopposed for a seat representing Lewiston, Maine, joins her in the House.

In Ohio, Munira Abdullahi and Ismail Mohamed, a man, won seats in the state House. Minnesota and Ohio have among the largest Somali American populations in the U.S.

Speaking to her supporters Tuesday night, Omar highlighted the significance of victories achieved by Somali American women.

“There was a time when we believed that women with a hijab could not get elected,” she said. “Tonight, Minnesota is electing three new women who are wearing hijab. That shows if you trust in yourself, if your people trust you, stand with you, everything is possible.”

Mohamed, one of the hijab-wearing Minnesota winners, expressed hope that more Somali Americans will run for office.

“I’m very happy with this victory tonight, thank God,” she told VOA Somali. “This is a victory for me, for my family and for the Somali people. God willing, a lot of men and women will follow me and will come through.”

Shukri Olow, who lost a state House seat outside Seattle, Washington, told VOA Somali that she was inspired to run by the women before her, including Omar, Hassan and Dhalac.

In an interview with VOA Somali, Dhalac confirmed that when she visited Washington in 2018, Olow asked her questions about running for office.

“She said she wanted to run for the open seats in her area or seats that will be open in the future in Washington state,” Dhalac recounted. “I encouraged her to do it. Many women say we will do this, we will do this tomorrow, we will do this next year. I said to her, if you want to compete, just do it.”

The success of Somali American female candidates in the U.S. eclipses that of female aspirants for elected office in Somalia.

Female politicians in Somalia are so disenfranchised that in 2016, Somalia’s federal and regional leaders had to start allocating a specific quota of seats in parliament. But women still were never given the opportunity to get the 30% quota promised.

In 2016, Somali women occupied 24% of the 329 seats in the two houses of parliament. In 2022, female candidates secured only 20%, well short of the 30% quota.

Fawzia Yusuf Haji Adam, the only female presidential candidate in the May 15 presidential election, got just a single vote — her own.

“I did not get the support I’m sure [Somali American women] are getting when they stand [for office], because here the culture and other factors are causing a lack of encouragement [for women],” she said.

Adam welcomed the success of Somali American women.

“This is a victory for Somali women in the diaspora,” she said. “I congratulate them, I encourage them, and we are proud of them.”

She said women in the diaspora, including those in the United States, Europe, and Canada, have opportunities that women in Somalia do not have.

“What made it possible is, first, the places they live in, where men and women are viewed equally, where they get encouragement from the schools, from the university, and from the parents, and they can see achievements by other women,” she said.

“Over there, the neighborhood they live in is going to elect them when they see the person is trustworthy, honest, working and clean. White and Black would vote for that.”

Harun Maruf contributed reporting from Washington.

source/content: voanews.com (headline edited)

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Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar speaks to supporters at an election night party after winning reelection early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9, 2022, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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AMERICAN / SOMALI

Ilhan Omar – First Somali-American Elected to U.S. Congress : November 2018

Ilhan Omar (aka) Ilhan Abdullahi Omar – American politician serving as U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional district since 2019.

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

First/s:

  • First Somali-American elected to U.S. Congress (November 06th, 2018)
  • First of two Muslim women elected to U.S.Congress (November 06th, 2018). The other candidate being Rep. Rashida Tlaib
  • First Woman of colour to hold elective office for Minnesota

Education:

  • BA – North Dakota State University

Book:

Memoir : ‘This is what America looks like : My journey from Refugee to Congresswoman’

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American / Somali-American