Samakab Hussein

Samakab Hussein (born October 12, 1980) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Hussein represents District 65A in the Twin Cities, which includes parts of the city of Saint Paul in Ramsey County.[1][2]

Samakab Hussein
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 65A district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byRena Moran
Personal details
Born (1980-10-12) October 12, 1980
Somalia
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
Spousemarried
Children2
ResidenceSaint Paul, Minnesota
EducationSaint Mary's University of Minnesota (BA)
Metropolitan State University
Occupation
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Early life, education and career

Hussein came to the United States from Somalia when he was 14. He received his bachelor's degree in business and accounting from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and a M.A.P.L. in advocacy and political leadership from Metropolitan State University in 2023.[1]

In 2015, Hussein unsuccessfully challenged Ward 1 Saint Paul city councilor Dai Thao.[3] Thao challenged many of Hussein's delegates, saying that they lived in Minneapolis, not Saint Paul.[4] Hussein's campaign manager called the claims "absolutely baseless".[4] The DFL endorsing convention lasted 10 hours and ended with no endorsement after neither candidate reached the 60% delegate threshold.[5]

In 2016, Hussein was a delegate for Hillary Clinton in Minnesota's delegation to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The Minnesota delegation had the largest number of Muslim and Somali delegates at the convention.[6]

Hussein supported former city council member and BMO Harris Bank senior vice president Pat Harris's 2017 Saint Paul mayoral campaign.[7]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Hussein was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. He first ran after redistricting and after six-term DFL incumbent Rena Moran announced she would run for Ramsey County Commissioner.[1] He is the first Somali-American to represent St. Paul in the Minnesota Legislature.[1]

Hussein is vice chair of the Legacy Finance Committee and serves on the Capital Investment, Housing Finance and Policy, and Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committees.[1]

Political positions

Hussein supported legislation that would have guaranteed rideshare drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft wage increases, employment protections and better insurance coverage.[8] The bill passed both chambers of the legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Tim Walz on May 25, 2023.[9]

Hussein joined a group of four Muslim legislators who condemned a Star Tribune editorial cartoon they called racist and Islamophobic. Star Tribune CEO and publisher Steve Grove apologized for the cartoon.[10] In the aftermath of a suspected arson at a Saint Paul mosque, Hussein said he would push legislators to hold the offenders accountable and called for solidarity with the Muslim community.[11][12]

Electoral history
2022 Minnesota State House - District 65A[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Samakab Hussein 7.018 71.21
Republican John Schonebaum 1,522 15.44
Legal Marijuana Now Miki Frost 1,302 13.21
Write-in 13 0.13
Total votes 9,855 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Hussein lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his spouse, and has two children.[1] He is Muslim.[10]

References
  1. "Hussein, Samakab - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  2. "Rep. Samakab Hussein (65A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. Duchschere, Kevin (January 13, 2015). "First-time candidates flocking to St. Paul City Council races". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  4. Duchschere, Kevin (March 5, 2015). "St. Paul beat: Delegate challenges could be issue at ward convention". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  5. Duchschere, Kevin (March 7, 2015). "St. Paul DFLers fail to endorse for First Ward council seat". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  6. Pugmire, Tim (2016-07-26). "Somali presence big in state DNC delegation". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  7. Nelson, Tim (2017-10-16). "Snapshot: Who's running for mayor in St. Paul and why". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  8. Nesterak, Max (2023-05-10). "Bill regulating Uber and Lyft could hold up the rest of the legislative agenda in Minnesota". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  9. May 25, 2023 (2023-05-25). "Walz vetoes bill adding protections for Uber, Lyft drivers". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  10. Olson, Rochelle; Bierschbach, Briana (April 26, 2023). "4 Muslim legislators condemn Star Tribune editorial cartoon; publisher apologizes". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  11. Jackson, Kyeland; Krauss, Louis (May 17, 2023). "Minnesota Muslims 'on edge' after sixth incident of vandalism, now arson at St. Paul mosque". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  12. Ibrahim, Mohamed (2023-04-27). "Muslim lawmakers, community members urge action following attacks on mosques". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  13. "2022 Results for State Representative District 65A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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