Nadia Mohamed has made history as the newly elected mayor of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, becoming the city’s first Black mayor in 170 years and the first Somali American mayor in Minnesota, marking the second known Somali mayor in US history.
Securing 58% of the vote, Mohamed triumphed over her opponent, retired banker Dale A. Anderson, in the municipal election.
Reacting on her victory, Mohamed expressed her aspiration to ensure community inclusivity in policy-making: “As mayor, I want to make sure people see themselves reflected in our policies.”
Hailing from a family that sought refuge in Kenya following the Somali Civil War, Mohamed spent her earlier years in the Kakuma refugee camp before resettling in the US at the age of 10. Her journey led her to St. Louis Park, where she became actively involved in community work, eventually earning the city’s Human Rights Award in 2018.
Possessing a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources from Metropolitan State University, Mohamed, at the age of 23, became the city council’s youngest-ever and first Muslim member in 2019.
Her mayoral campaign in 2023 emphasized priorities such as boosting community policing and implementing programs to enhance homeownership affordability, as highlighted by The Star Tribune. Notably, in a city where 80% of the population is white, Mohamed’s campaign revolved around addressing the issue of homeownership and community policing.
Former mayor Jake Spano, who endorsed Mohamed before the November 7, 2023 election, praised her commitment to the community: “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that to do the job of mayor, you have to love people, love solving problems and believe in the people in your community to do good things. Councilmember Mohamed and I agree on this.”