KENYA: Ilhan Omar Elected in Minnesota, Becomes First Somali to Hold American Public Office

 
As the mainstream American voters opted for Donald Trump’s message of alienation, voters in the state of Minnesota elected Ilhan Omar - a Somali-American Muslim woman - to represent them as a State legislator.

Ms Omar, who became the first person of Somali origin to occupy public office in the United States, was born in Somali and at one time lived at a Kenyan refugee camp before moving to the United States.

The 33-year-old described her victory as a strong message of defiance to people such as Trump who believe that Muslims have no place in American society.

"Even though his message is supposed to function as a fear element in making sure that we don't vote, so we don't see ourselves as part of the American system, it's had the opposite effect," Omar affirmed.

Omar revealed that her political strategy involved working closely with minority groups including the significant Kenyan and African population that resides in her constituency.

Indeed, in interviews following her historic win, she described herself as an American of 'East African descent'- an apt description that resonated with her minority constituency.

Notably, the representative-elect did not abandon her culture to win the support of the voters and this is clear in the fact that she still wears her hijab.

Minnesota, located in the midwestern region of the US, has a significant Somali population - an issue Trump openly complained about during his campaigns in the region.

"Here in Minnesota, you've seen first-hand the problems caused with faulty refugee vetting, with very large numbers of Somali refugees coming into your state without your knowledge, without your support or approval," Trump told a charged rally while campaigning in the state.

He added, "Some of them (are) joining ISIS (the Islamic State group) and spreading their extremist views all over our country and all over the world."

Like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Omar ran on a Democratic Party - the political home for liberals and minority groups.