Ismail Mohamed gave his victory speech at the Democratic Primary in Ohio on Tuesday.
According to local media, Mohamed made these remarks after defeating Abdirizak Diin by 55 percent to 33 percent. The two men are Somali immigrants.
Munira Abdulallahi, a 31-year-old lawyer from Columbus in Ohio, won the 9th district in Ohio that year and became Ohio’s first Somali lawmaker.
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 election campaign focused on the importance of the Somali community, which is second in size among the Somali communities in the United States. The city has approximately 75,000 Somalis.
Mohammed actively engaged with the Somali community. As part of his outreach, Mohammed appeared on the Somali state-owned TV network and stated that he would lobby for his homeland.
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 of the Ohio House of Representatives describes his background:
Rep. Mohamed received his Jurisprudence doctorate from the OSU Moritz College of Law. He is the first Somali American lawyer in Ohio.
Rep. Mohamed and Munira Abdallah, a fellow State Representative, were the first Somali Americans elected to the 135th General Assembly.
Ilhan Omar, a congresswoman from Minnesota who is a member of the far-left party, has repeatedly used her position to advocate for Somalia.
In January, Omar gave a disturbing speech, she pledged her allegiance to Somalia and said she was “here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system.”
The United States will not support any attempts to steal Somalia’s land or oceans. Rest assured, I am here to protect Somalia’s interests from within the U.S. system. Your representative in Congress is tirelessly working to safeguard your interests, fully understanding both Somalia’s and your struggles. I share your deep concern for Somalia’s well-being. Together, we will defend Somalia’s interests.
Somalia belongs to Somalis, even though over 45 percent of its population are not ethnic Somalis. We are one nation, united as brothers and sisters. Our land cannot be divided. Ethiopia and Kenya have unlawfully occupied the Somali region state, which rightfully belongs to Somalia. We will work towards liberating these territories and restoring them to Somalia.
All political parties in Somalia, as well as those from other countries, condemned her remarks. She was accused of inciting ethnic tensions within the African nation.
