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Nadia Mohamed makes history as St. Louis Park's first black, Somali, and Muslim mayor

Nadia Mohamed (File Photo)

By Agency | Wednesday, November 8, 2023

St. Louis Park voters elected Nadia Mohamed as the city’s first Black, first Somali, and first Muslim mayor Tuesday night.

St. Louis Park voters elected Nadia Mohamed as the city’s first Black, first Somali, and first Muslim mayor Tuesday night.

Nadia is also the youngest person ever elected to the west metro suburb’s top public office in the city’s 170-year history. Nadia, 26, previously served on the St. Louis Park City Council. She was elected in 2019 as the council’s first Somali, first Muslim, and youngest council member.

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Nadia is also believed to be the first Somali mayor in Minnesota. In the lead up to Tuesday’s election, only one other Somali mayor had been identified in the country—Deqa Dhalac was elected mayor of South Portland, Maine, in 2021, becoming the country’s first Somali mayor. Deqa was selected by the city council, while Nadia is now the first elected Somali mayor in the U.S.

“This is the second time I’m making history. What I had learned the first time is that this is just a milestone. It is not the destination,” Nadia told Sahan Journal. “It’s amazing to accomplish all these ‘firsts’, but it is not where we want to stop our story.”

Nadia received more than 58 percent of first-choice votes to best Dale Anderson, a retired banker and continuing education teacher who received 41 percent of first-choice votes. She will succeed Jake Spano, who announced in March that he would not seek reelection. Spano also endorsed Nadia.

According to her campaign manager, Nadia’s campaign knocked on 5,000 doors since she announced her candidacy in April.

Nadia’s family immigrated to St. Louis Park as refugees when she was 10 years old. Nadia also previously worked as a diversity, equity, and inclusion specialist for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

More than 100 people gathered at the Westwood Hills Nature Center for Nadia’s election party. Supporters were excited to witness the potential election of the state’s first Somali mayor.

Kawsar Mohamed, 21, wasn’t previously interested in politics, but she grew up with Nadia and considers her a close family friend. Nadia reached out to Kawsar with an opportunity to volunteer with the campaign as a graphic designer.

“What drew me to her campaign and local politics is, she’s very passionate about her job,” Kawsar said.

Marwo Elmi, 35, is not a St. Louis Park resident, but she is interested in local politics.

Story written by Hibah Ansari (Sahan Journal)