Want to know why our members were so excited to endorse Ilhan Omar for State Representative? Here are the top five reasons:
ONE
Ilhan Omar’s leadership reflects our values for racial, gender and economic justice. Ilhan:
- Supported the Ban the Box legislation in 2013
- Joined the strike led by nurses of the Minnesota Nurses Association fighting to keep their health care
- Currently serves as the Director of Policy Initiatives at Women Organizing Women, where she supports the civic leadership of East African women.
TWO
With support from TakeAction, MN Nurses Association, Outfront Minnesota, former Mayor R.T. Rybak, State Senator Scott Dibble, and a teeming list of community members – Ilhan has the support behind her to win. While most of the establishment assumed that everyone would automatically line up behind the incumbent, Ilhan has worked hard to prove she is the best choice for her district – and our members agreed when we resoundingly endorsed her earlier this year.
THREE
Ilhan has built a broad coalition that truly represents the diverse and beautiful communities of her district. Students, immigrants, and neighbors too often alienated by politics have joined her campaign. She has a team led by students and women of color, she has older white folks calling other seniors to talk about why its #Time4Ilhan. She is proving her doubters wrong – she is proving that not just one constituency supports her – she truly has the support of folks from all walks of life in her district. She will represent all voices at the Capitol.
FOUR
Time and time again in Minnesota — whether directly or implied — we talk about the need for racial, gender and economic equity in our state. We talk about the need to include more women, people of color, and immigrants into the political process, into leadership positions, and in uniting people of all backgrounds. Electing Ilhan Omar is taking action on this talk.
As the first Somali-American and Muslim woman elected to public office in Minnesota, she would bring a perspective – a set of life experiences – that has been missing from our Capitol. Ilhan is exactly who we need in the State House!
FIVE
llhan has shown that she will be a powerful advocate at the Capitol for the diverse voices of our community.
- Ilhan supports paid sick time, $15 minimum wage, and scheduling at work that lets families take care of themselves.
- She helped win paid parental leave for city employees.
- Ilhan supports Restore the Vote — a legislation that would allow 47,000 people with records, who are denied their vote, to vote.
