Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar
Official portrait, 2019
Ilhan Omar
Born	Ilham Abdullahi Omar 4 10, 1982
Birthplace	Mogadishu, Somalia
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	First Somali-American member of the U.S. Congress; first woman of color to represent Minnesota in Congress
Education	North Dakota State University (BA)
Children	3, including Isra Hirsi
Website	[[omar.house.gov omar.house.gov] Official site]

Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (born October 4, 1982) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since January 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, the state affiliate of the Democratic Party, Omar made history upon her election to Congress as the first Somali American and one of the first two Muslim women—alongside Rashida Tlaib—elected to the United States Congress. She is also the first woman of color to represent Minnesota in Congress. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Omar spent part of her childhood in a refugee camp in Kenya before her family resettled in the United States. Prior to her congressional tenure, she served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019, representing District 60B in Minneapolis. Her congressional district encompasses all of Minneapolis and portions of its surrounding suburbs. Omar serves as deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has been a prominent voice on issues including immigration, healthcare, and foreign policy.

Early Life

Ilhan Abdullahi Omar was born on October 4, 1982, in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. She was the youngest of seven siblings. Her family was relatively prominent in Somadishu; her grandfather and father were involved in civic life in the country. Her mother died when Omar was young, and she was raised in part by her grandfather.

When Omar was eight years old, the Somali Civil War forced her family to flee the country. They spent approximately four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before being granted entry to the United States. The family arrived in New York in 1995 and eventually settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is home to one of the largest Somali diaspora communities in the United States.

Omar has described the experience of arriving in the United States as both exciting and disorienting. She learned English in part by watching American television and through the public school system. She became a U.S. citizen in 2000, when she was seventeen years old. Omar has spoken publicly about how her grandfather instilled in her a sense of civic responsibility and an appreciation for democratic governance, even as the family navigated the challenges of resettlement in a new country.

The Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, where Omar's family settled, became a focal point of Somali-American community life and would later form part of the political base from which she launched her career in elected office.

Education

Omar attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international studies. Her time at the university exposed her to formal political science coursework and deepened her interest in public policy. After completing her undergraduate studies, Omar returned to Minneapolis, where she became increasingly involved in community organizing and local politics.

Career

Early Political Involvement

Before seeking elected office, Omar worked as a community organizer and policy analyst in Minneapolis. She became involved in local Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party politics, particularly in the Cedar-Riverside area of the city, which has a large Somali-American population. Her early political work focused on issues of civic engagement, education, and immigration—topics that reflected both her personal experience as a refugee and the concerns of her community.

In 2014, Omar's involvement in DFL caucus politics in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood drew public attention. A precinct caucus in the area became contentious, with allegations of irregularities and heated confrontations among participants vying for influence in the local party structure. The episode underscored the growing political engagement of the Somali-American community in Minneapolis and foreshadowed Omar's own entry into electoral politics.

Minnesota House of Representatives (2017–2019)

In 2016, Omar ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 60B, a seat covering parts of Minneapolis including the University of Minnesota campus and the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. The district had been represented for more than four decades by Phyllis Kahn, a veteran DFL legislator. Omar defeated Kahn in the DFL primary, a result that attracted significant attention given the generational and demographic shift it represented.

In the November 2016 general election, Omar's Republican opponent suspended his campaign, effectively clearing her path to victory. Omar won the seat and took office on January 2, 2017, becoming the first Somali-American legislator in the United States.

Her election drew national and international media coverage. The Arab American Institute highlighted her candidacy as a milestone for refugee and immigrant representation in American politics. During her tenure in the Minnesota House, Omar served on several committees and advocated for issues including affordable housing, education funding, and criminal justice reform. She was succeeded in the state legislature by Mohamud Noor when she moved on to run for Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives (2019–present)

Election to Congress

In 2018, Omar ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota's 5th congressional district, the seat being vacated by Keith Ellison, who was running for Minnesota Attorney General. Ellison had himself been the first Muslim member of Congress when he was elected in 2006. Omar won the DFL primary and then the general election, taking office on January 3, 2019. Her election made her one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, alongside Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and the first Somali American to serve in the body.

Legislative Priorities

In Congress, Omar has served as deputy chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and has advocated for a range of progressive policy positions. She has supported a minimum wage of $15 per hour, universal healthcare, the forgiveness of student loan debt, and the protection of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. She has also called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Omar has been a vocal critic of U.S. immigration enforcement practices. In February 2026, she and fellow Minnesota Representative Angie Craig disclosed that they had been informed that fewer than 500 ICE agents were operating in Minnesota, conducting arrests throughout the state. She has continued to criticize the Trump administration's immigration policies and broader enforcement operations, including what has been referred to as "Operation Metro Surge."

Foreign Policy and Israel-Palestine

Omar has been one of the most prominent congressional critics of Israel. She supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel and has denounced Israel's settlement policies and military campaigns in the occupied Palestinian territories. She has also criticized the influence of pro-Israel lobbying organizations in American politics.

Her comments on Israel and pro-Israel lobbying have generated significant controversy. In February 2019, Omar drew bipartisan criticism after making statements about the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that some members of Congress and commentators characterized as invoking antisemitic tropes. Omar subsequently apologized for those specific remarks while maintaining her broader criticism of the Israeli government's policies.

In February 2023, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to remove Omar from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Republicans who supported the resolution cited her past comments about Israel and raised concerns about her objectivity on foreign policy matters. Democrats largely opposed the move, with many characterizing it as politically motivated retaliation.

"The Squad"

Omar is frequently identified as a member of "The Squad," an informal group of progressive Democratic members of Congress that has also included Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ayanna Pressley, among others. The group has been notable for its advocacy of progressive policies and for drawing significant media attention and political opposition, particularly from Republican leaders and conservative commentators.

Attacks and Threats

Omar has been the target of multiple death threats and hostile incidents throughout her political career. Her political opponents, including former and current President Donald Trump, have made derogatory comments related to her Somali heritage, her refugee background, and her Muslim faith.

In January 2026, Omar was physically attacked during a town hall event she was hosting in Minneapolis. A man, identified as Anthony J. Kazmierczak, 55, rushed toward her and used a syringe to spray a brownish liquid smelling of vinegar at her. Omar was not injured in the incident and continued speaking after the man was tackled to the ground by attendees. The assailant was arrested on suspicion of assault.

In the aftermath of the attack, Omar told the BBC, "I don't let bullies win," and continued her schedule of public engagements. When asked by ABC News about the incident, President Trump responded, "No. I don't think about her. I think she's a fraud," a comment that drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and commentators who characterized it as dismissive and callous.

Wealth and Financial Scrutiny

Omar's finances have been the subject of public scrutiny and political attacks. President Trump, along with Elon Musk and other political figures, has claimed that Omar has a net worth of $44 million, a figure that has been widely questioned. An analysis by Forbes in January 2026 concluded that the claim was "highly unlikely" based on Omar's publicly available financial disclosure forms, which are required of all members of Congress.

Personal Life

Ilhan Omar has three children, including Isra Hirsi, who has become known for her climate activism. Omar has spoken publicly about her experience as a refugee and an immigrant, and she has described how these formative experiences shaped her political outlook and commitment to public service.

Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000. She resides in Minneapolis, within the congressional district she represents. Her personal life has at times been the subject of media attention and political commentary, though she has sought to maintain focus on her policy work and constituent services.

Recognition

Omar's election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 was recognized as a historic milestone, making her the first Somali-American legislator in the United States. Her subsequent election to the U.S. Congress in 2018 further extended that record, as she became the first Somali American and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the body.

Her story—from refugee camp to the halls of Congress—has been the subject of extensive media coverage both in the United States and internationally. Publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Independent, and Al Arabiya have profiled her journey. The Arab American Institute highlighted her 2016 state legislative campaign as an example of growing immigrant political participation in America.

Omar's resilience in the face of threats and attacks has also drawn public attention. Following the January 2026 town hall attack in Minneapolis, her response was covered by major international outlets including the BBC, CNN, NBC News, and The New York Times.

Legacy

Ilhan Omar's political career represents several firsts in American political history. She was the first Somali-American legislator elected in the United States when she won her Minnesota House seat in 2016, and she extended that distinction to the federal level upon her election to Congress in 2018. She is one of the first two Muslim women to serve in the U.S. Congress and the first woman of color to represent Minnesota in that body.

Her career has coincided with and contributed to a broader increase in the representation of immigrants, refugees, and Muslim Americans in elected office across the United States. Her elections have been cited by political commentators and advocacy organizations as evidence of the expanding diversity of American political life, particularly in a state and district with a significant Somali-American population.

At the same time, Omar's tenure has been marked by persistent controversy, particularly over her statements on Israel and U.S. foreign policy, and by the hostility she has faced from political opponents. The attacks directed at her—ranging from rhetorical to physical—have drawn attention to the challenges faced by women of color and members of religious minorities in American politics.

Omar's advocacy on progressive policy issues—including immigration reform, healthcare expansion, and student debt relief—has made her a prominent figure within the left wing of the Democratic Party. Her role as a member of "The Squad" has placed her at the center of debates about the direction of the party and the scope of progressive ambitions in Congress.