Politics & World • Politician

Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar is an American politician and member of the U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ilhan Omar is an American politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where she has represented Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party and was the first Somali American elected to the U.S. Congress.

Early life and background

Ilhan Omar was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and fled the Somali civil war as a child. Sources describe her as a Somali American and note that she later settled in Minneapolis.

Political career

Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019 before being elected to the U.S. House. She has represented Minnesota's 5th congressional district since January 2019.

Political positions

Omar is generally described as a progressive Democrat. Reported positions include support for expanded health care coverage, stronger gun checks, abolition of ICE, and other left-leaning policy goals.

Controversies

Omar has faced repeated criticism over comments on Israel and U.S. support for Israel, including a 2019 remark that she later apologized for. She has also been the subject of political attacks and partisan controversy more broadly.

Key facts

Ilhan Omar represents Minnesota's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House since 2019.
She was the first Somali American elected to the U.S. Congress.
Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.
She is a member of the Democratic Party and holds progressive political positions.
Her career has drawn controversy over comments about Israel and related accusations of antisemitism.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ilhan Omar?

Ilhan Omar is a U.S. Democratic politician who has represented Minnesota's 5th congressional district in the U.S. House since 2019.

Where is Ilhan Omar from?

She was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and later moved to the United States as a refugee.

What district does Ilhan Omar represent?

She represents Minnesota's 5th congressional district, which includes Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.

What controversies has Ilhan Omar been involved in?

She has faced controversy over remarks about Israel and U.S. support for Israel, including a 2019 comment she apologized for. She has also been a frequent target of political attacks.

What are Ilhan Omar's political views?

She is generally described as a progressive Democrat and has supported expanded health care, stronger gun background checks, abolishing ICE, and other progressive policies.

Is Ilhan Omar Somali-American?

Yes. She is widely described as Somali American and was the first Somali American elected to the U.S. Congress.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilhan_Omar
Supports: Birth date, office held, district, party, prior office, and first Somali American elected to Congress.
Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ilhan-Omar
Supports: Birthplace, political role, district, and early congressional milestones.
U.S. House of Representatives — https://omar.house.gov/about
Supports: Official biography, district represented, refugee background, and office dates.
BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47238450
Supports: Background, Somali-American identity, and reported political positions.
Iowa State University Archives of Women's Political Communication — https://awpc.cattcenter.iastate.edu/directory/ilhan-omar
Supports: Office assumptions, Somali American identity, and historical firsts.
The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/us/ilhan-omar-who-is-minnesota-sprayed-attack.html
Supports: Recent profile details, district, public prominence, and Israel-related controversy context.
Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/political-figures/ilhan-omar
Supports: Progressive positions and basic biographical details.