Keith Ellison

American politician (born 1963)

Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American politician. He is the Attorney General of Minnesota. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), the Minnesota state Democratic Party affiliate.

Keith Ellison
30th Attorney General of Minnesota
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
GovernorTim Walz
Preceded byLori Swanson
Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office
February 25, 2017 – November 8, 2018
LeaderTom Perez
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byVacant
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Minnesota's 5th district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byMartin Sabo
Succeeded byIlhan Omar
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 58B district
In office
January 7, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byGregory Gray
Succeeded byAugustine Dominguez
Personal details
Born
Keith Maurice Ellison

(1963-08-04) August 4, 1963 (age 60)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse(s)Kim Ellison (1987–2012)
ChildrenAmirah
Jeremiah
Elijah
Isaiah
Alma materWayne State University, B.A.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, J.D.
WebsiteHouse website

He was the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2019. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a Chief Deputy Whip, also notably serving in the House Committee on Financial Services.

Ellison is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress.[1] He is also the first African American elected to the House from Minnesota.[2]

In November 2016, progressive groups and United States senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont,[3] supported Ellison for chair of the Democratic National Committee.[4][5] On February 25, 2017, minutes after defeating him on a second ballot, Chairman Tom Perez motioned for Ellison to be elected his Deputy Chair which was approved by a unanimous voice vote of DNC members.[6]

On June 5, 2018, Ellison announced that he was running for Attorney General of Minnesota and not seeking reelection to Congress.[7][8] He won the election in November 2018.[9]

References change

  1. Robson, Britt (2006-08-30). "Running Man". City Pages. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  2. MacFarquhar, Neil (2006-10-11). "Muslim's Election Is Celebrated Here and in Mideast". New York Times. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
  3. Strauss, Daniel (November 10, 2016). "Sanders backs Ellison for DNC chairman". Politico. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  4. Hook, Janet (November 11, 2016). "Schumer, Liberal Leaders Rally Behind Rep. Ellison for DNC Chair". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  5. "Schumer throws his support behind Keith Ellison for DNC chairman". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  6. CNN, Eric Bradner. "Perez wins DNC chairmanship". CNN. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. Ellison, Keith (2018-06-05). "Today I am announcing my candidacy to be the People's Lawyer, and to protect and defend all Minnesotans as your next Attorney General". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  8. Bierschbach, Briana; Bakst, Brian; Pugmire, Tim. "Filing deadline drama: Ellison, Omar moves scramble Minnesota politics". www.mprnews.org.
  9. "Keith Ellison defeats Doug Wardlow in Minnesota attorney general race". Star Tribune.