Ilhan Omar is a Somali-American politician who has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 2019. She represents Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. She is a Democratic Party member and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.
She is noted for her progressive views on immigration, healthcare, and social justice. Omar has emerged as a prominent voice advocating for marginalised populations and addressing systematic injustices in American society.
IIhan Omar At Glance
Attribute | Details |
Full Name | Ilhan Abdullahi Omar |
Date of Birth | October 4, 1982 |
Place of Birth | Mogadishu, Somalia |
Nationality | Somali-American |
Political Party | Democratic Party |
Position | U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 5th District |
Term Start | January 3, 2019 |
Historical Significance | One of the first two Muslim women in Congress |
Key Issues Advocated | Immigration, healthcare, social justice, education |
Education | North Dakota State University (BA) |
Previous Positions | Minnesota House of Representatives (2017-2019) |
Notable Achievements | Advocate for marginalized communities and progressive causes |
Family | Divorced, mother of three children |
Religion | Islam |
Ilhan Oman Early Life
Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, as the youngest of seven siblings. Her mother passed away when Omar was just two, so she was brought up by her father and grandfather. In 1991, the Somali Civil War began, drastically altering their lives and forcing the family to seek refuge in Kenya when Omar was eight. They lived in a refugee camp for four years before being granted asylum in the United States in 1995.
The family settled in Arlington, Virginia, where Omar and her sisters learned English by watching television. In 1997, they relocated to Minneapolis, specifically in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, which was home to many Somali immigrants.
Omar attended Thomas Edison High School and often assisted her grandfather by translating for him so he could engage in local politics. At 17, Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
Omar’s interest in politics started early, but her journey to becoming a member of the U.S. House of Representatives was challenging. After completing high school in 2001, she married her longtime partner, Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, in a religious ceremony that wasn’t legally recognized. The same year, she began a two-year program to earn an associate’s degree in accounting but struggled to balance her studies after having her daughter, Isra Hirsi, in 2003.
Omar then switched to business administration and completed her degree in 2005, the same year her son, Adnan Hirsi, was born. She later took a position as an instructor in a health and nutrition program aimed at helping underserved communities through the University of Minnesota’s extension department.
Ilhan Oman Networth:
- Net Worth: $16 Million
- Annual Income: $5 Million
- Salary: $180,000
- Cash in Bank: $1.2 Million
- Stock Portfolio: $6 Million
Realty in Ilhan Oman
– $4 million luxury residence on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
– A $3 million modern townhouse in central Brooklyn.
– Harlem townhouse valued at $2 million.
– A $1 million residential residence in Queens.
Physical Stats & More
- Height: 162 cm (1.62 m), 5’ 4”
- Weight: 55 kg (121 lbs)
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Salt and Pepper