Ilhan Omar is a Somali-American politician best known for representing Minnesota’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ilhan Abdullahi Omar was born on October 4, 1982, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Due to the civil war, her family fled the country when she was eight years old, spending approximately four years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In 1997, they immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Omar's interest in civic engagement began at age 14 when she served as a translator for her grandfather at local Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party caucuses. Witnessing grassroots organizing firsthand deeply influenced her political aspirations and appreciation for the democratic process.
In 2016, Ilhan Omar made history by becoming the first Somali-American, the first naturalized citizen from Africa, and one of the first two Muslim women elected to a state legislature in the U.S. She won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 60B. Her campaign was noted for significantly increasing voter turnout through effective grassroots organizing. Omar has lived in that district for over two decades, and she and her then-husband, Ahmed Hirsi, raised their three children there.
In 2018, Omar was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Minnesota's 5th congressional district. Early in her congressional tenure, she introduced the No Ban Act in response to the Trump administration’s travel restrictions targeting several Muslim-majority countries. She also co-sponsored the Yemen War Powers Resolution to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen. Additionally, she advocated for the extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) protections for Liberians, joined the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and has focused on championing equitable policies that reflect the diversity of American experiences.
Omar has often been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump. In July 2019, she responded to a controversial tweet by Trump suggesting that certain congresswomen should "go back" to the countries they came from—a remark widely condemned as xenophobic. Omar responded by condemning the statement and described Trump as “the worst, most corrupt and inept president” in history, highlighting the antagonism between them during his presidency.
Ilhan Omar's personal life has received public attention, particularly concerning her marriages. In 2002, she entered into a faith-based Muslim marriage with Ahmed Hirsi. The couple separated in 2008. She legally married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2009 but separated from him in 2011; Elmi later returned to the United Kingdom. Omar filed for divorce from Elmi in 2017, after which she reunited with Hirsi. The two legally married in 2018 but later separated and finalized their divorce in 2019. In 2020, Omar married political strategist Tim Mynett.
Omar has addressed persistent conspiracy theories suggesting that Elmi was her biological brother. She has categorically denied these claims, calling them “absurd and offensive.” Despite the unfounded nature of these allegations, they have been the subject of repeated misinformation campaigns.
While Ilhan Omar’s net worth is modest compared to many of her congressional peers, she has remained focused on public service rather than personal wealth accumulation. Her financial disclosures reflect a career rooted in nonprofit and political work, demonstrating her commitment to progressive issues and community advocacy.
| Birth Date: | 4 Oct, 1981 |
| Age: | 39 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America Somalia |
| Birth Place: | Mogadishu |
| residence: | Minneapolis |
| Education: | North Dakota State University University of North Dakota |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American politician from Minnesota |
