This Day in History: 2017-11-16
November 8, 2016 – “Minnesota Elects Country’s First Muslim American Woman Legislator”
Ilhan Omar became the first Muslim American woman elected to any legislative body in the country’s history. Omar, a Somali-American, is a former refugee and was elected to serve in Minnesota’s state legislature. In order to win her party’s nomination in Minneapolis, where she serves, she had to defeat a 44-year incumbent. She is an advocate for affordable college, criminal justice reform, economic equality and clean energy.
1959 - “Asian American Elected to U.S. Senate for First Time
” Hiram Fong, who was one of Hawaii's most prominent and successful businessmen at the time, was elected to represent Hawaii in the U.S. Senate. He became the first Asian American elected to the legislative body. He was also the first Asian American to seek the Republican party's nomination for resident of the United States. Fong was the first in a long line of Asian American elected officials to represent Hawaii, including Daniel Inouye, Daniel Akaka and Mazie Hirono.