Ilhan Omar, The 1st Somali-American Elected To Congress, Seeks To Make U.S. More Welcoming
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American elected to the U.S. Congress, says she wants to make the United States more welcoming to immigrants and refugees.
The 36-year-old Democrat, who herself was a refugee before coming to the United States, appeared Wednesday on CBS This Morning, just hours after winning Minnesota's 5th District seat in a landslide, with 78 percent of the vote.
On the program, she expressed hope that she and the new Congress, with a Democratic House, can serve as a check on the administration of President Donald Trump.
.@IlhanMN: It wasn't long before I arrived that I noticed a lot of America's promise wasn't extended to everyone... I couldn't sit on the sidelines & not be part of a group who were insisting on a set of values that got us closer to the America we know we could have and deserve. pic.twitter.com/3bFVTkSiBa
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) November 7, 2018
Omar is one of two Muslim women elected Tuesday to the U.S. House. The other was Rashida Tlaib, of Michigan. They will join a record number of women in Congress.
When asked about her political journey in Minnesota, Omar said, "It's a cold place but the people have warm hearts."