November 12th 2023.
On November 8th, Nadia Mohamed made history when she was elected as the first Somali-American mayor in United States history. This momentous event was made possible by the people of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, who elected her with a resounding 60% of the vote.
Mohamed had previously been the first Somali-American elected to city council in 2019, and was now the first Black mayor in the town’s history, and the first Somali-American mayor in Minnesota’s history. The victory was made even sweeter due to the endorsement from the outgoing mayor, Jake Spano, as well as other prominent politicians such as Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Rep. Larry Kraft, and Rep. Cheryl Youakim.
In an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Mohamed expressed her excitement for her win and her ambitions to ensure that people feel represented in the policies she will enact: “This is a milestone. This is not the destination. As mayor, I want to ensure people see themselves reflected in our policies.”
The election of Mohamed has sent waves through the city, as it is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in Minnesota. In light of this, Habon Abdulle, PhD, took to Twitter to express her hope of unity between the two communities: “Contrary to those who wish to instigate tension between our communities, this election represents a sign of hope and unity.”
On election day, Mohamed made a heartfelt speech to her supporters, crediting her mother for inspiring her with her courage: “I have watched a courageous woman handle her business every day. That courage comes easy to me now.” Her words were echoed by Cedrick Frazier’s tweet, which read, “St. Louis Park and Golden Valley both elected a Black woman as their next mayor! Congratulations to mayors-elect Roslyn Harmon and Nadia Mohamed.”
The election of Nadia Mohamed to be St. Louis Park’s mayor is a historic victory that will be celebrated for years to come. It is a testament to the strength of the people of Minnesota who chose inclusion and progress over division and intolerance.
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