Minnesota Makes History with the Election of the State's First 3 Black Women Senators

The election of Black women to the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday night was historical for Minnesota Democrats as well as Black women across the state.

The first three Black women to serve in the Minnesota Senate in its 164-year existence are Clare Oumou Verbeten in District 66, Erin Maye Quade in District 56, and Zaynab Mohamed in District 63.

Zaynab, who is only 25, is also the youngest woman to be elected to the state Senate. Before running for office, she spoke to Sahan Journal saying:

"I’ve walked the halls of the Senate for the past year-and-a-half lobbying for bills, and I never saw myself in there. There’s not a single Black woman. We don’t have representation in the Senate."

Clare Oumou Verbeten, a former equity manager, will represent Roseville, Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, and a portion of St. Paul.

Former state representative, Maye Quade, will serve as a senator for Apple Valley, Rosemount, and the southeast corner of Eagan when she re-enters the state legislature.

To read more on this story, visit Sahan Journal