It was almost two years ago to the day that Minnesota elected Ilhan Omar as the first Somali-Muslim state representative in the history of our country. Today, state representative Omar became United States Rep. Ilhan Omar. Alongside Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib, the two become the first-ever Muslim women elected to the U.S. Congress. Omar ran on the promise of real progressive change, and she won because she’s been truly awe-inspiring.
"The thing about being a progressive is that you are constantly pushing somebody every single day towards a more productive, a more equitable, just society.”
Knowing that her policies were the most popular and that the conservative movement’s only arsenal consisted of hate and fear, Omar confronted those issues head on.
Rep. Omar has been a big part of the progressive movement these past few years and had very little trouble finding supporters. Rep. Tlaib’s victory in Michigan was all but assured, as she was running unopposed. As a result, Tlaib spent a considerable amount of her time campaigning for other progressives like Omar.
It is important to remember that there are real rays of light in these dark times, and Rep. Ilhan Omar is one truly brilliant light.