Keith Ellison, a practicing African-American Muslim, was endorsed on Saturday by Minnesota's Democratic Party to represent the 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. If Ellison goes on to win the November election, he will be the
first Muslim American ever to serve in the U.S. Congress. He will also be the first African-American to represent the state of Minnesota in Washington.
Analysis below the fold:
Encompassing urban Minneapolis and some outlying suburbs, the 5th district is one of the most liberal and safest Democratic seats in the U.S. House; it voted for Kerry over Bush by nearly a 3 to 1 ratio. The eventual nominee of the Democratic party (in Minnesota, the Democratic Farm Labor party or DFL) is a shoe-in to win the election in November.
Ellison must still win the Democratic primary in September, and several less compelling challengers have stated their intentions to run against him. Having earned the endorsement of the delegates at the party's district convention, however, Ellison will enjoy the support of the party's machinery, and he is highly favored to emerge victorious in the primary. Ellison would replace the retiring Democratic congressman Martin Sabo, who has held the seat for the last 28 years.
On being the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Congress, Ellison stated
It's good for people to see a reasonable, moderate face of Islam.
A native of Detroit, Ellison currently represents the predominantly African-American north side of the city of Minneapolis in the Minnesota state house. He was elected to that post in 2002.
Democrats running for statewide offices, including the eventual nominee for an open seat in the U.S. Senate and the Democratic challenger to our current Republican governor, will benefit from Ellison's candidacy. With Ellison on the ticket in November, African-American turnout is expected to rise.