Ohio State Rep. Ismail Mohamed gave his victory speech in Somali after winning the Democratic primary on Tuesday for the state’s 3rd House District.
Mohamed made the remarks after defeating fellow candidate Abdirizak Diin by 55 to 33 percent, according to local media. Both men are immigrants from Somalia.
In 2022, the 31-year-old lawyer from Columbus made history by becoming Ohio’s first Somali lawmaker, alongside Munira Abdullahi, who also secured a victory in Ohio’s 9th district that same year.
Ohio State Rep. Ismail Mohamed delivers his victory speech ENTIRELY in Somali. NOT ONE BIT OF ENGLISH.
His whole campaign was Somali.
We live in the UNITED STATES, not Somalia. pic.twitter.com/k31vScdu5X
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) March 20, 2024
His campaign focused on advocating for the city’s sizable Somali community of around 75,000 making it the second-largest Somali population center in the United States.
Mohammed actively engaged with the Somali community, even appearing on a Somali-owned state television network as part of his campaign outreach efforts, where he made clear he intends to lobby for his home country.
Ohio State Rep. Ismail Mohamed (D-Columbus) is campaigning on #Somalia‘s state owned TV for an American election. He said his objective is to lobby for #Somalia, and his first term achievement was naming a Columbus street in honor of a Somali terrorist. pic.twitter.com/Tcghf7iGEN
— Nabad iyo Caano (@VancitySam) March 11, 2024
The website for the Ohio House of Representatives gives more detail about his background:
A graduate of Northland High School in Columbus, Rep. Mohamed came to Central Ohio at a young age from Somalia. After graduating high school, he went on to attend The Ohio State University receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 2013. Furthermore, Rep. Mohamed went on to receive his Jurisprudence Doctorate from OSU Moritz College of Law becoming the first Somali-American attorney to practice in the State of Ohio.
…
As State Representative, Rep. Mohamed wants to address the issues of small business development, affordable housing, public safety, and education. Rep. Mohamed joined fellow State Representative Munira Abdullahi in the 135th General Assembly in becoming the first Somali Americans in the state legislature’s history.
The most famous American Somali is the far-left Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who has repeatedly used her position to advocate for her native country.
Back in January, Omar gave a disturbing speech in which she pledged her allegiance to Somalia and admitted that she was “here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.”
The U.S. would not dare support anyone against Somalia to steal our land or oceans. Sleep in comfort, knowing I am here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system. The woman you sent to Congress is working day and night to protect your interests. She knows your plight and that of Somalia. I am as concerned about Somalia as you guys are. Together, we will protect the interests of Somalia.
Somalia is for Somalis only as over 45 percent of Somalia’s population are not even ethnic Somalis. Somalia is one nation. We are all brothers and sisters. Our land can not be divided. Ethiopia and Kenya have stolen and continue to occupy the Somali region state, which belongs to Somalia. We will liberate the occupied territories stolen from Somalia.
Her comments drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, including from politicians inside Somalia who accused her of stirring up ethnic tensions within the troubled African country.
