# Samakab Hussein *American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023* Samakab Hussein (born October 12, 1980) is a Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) politician who has held the District 65A seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] since 2023.[^1] The district lies in the Twin Cities and takes in parts of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] in Ramsey County.[^1] Hussein arrived in the United States from Somalia at age 14.[^2] He won his House seat in 2022. According to the cited article, he is the first Somali-American to represent St. Paul in the [[Minnesota Legislature]].[^3] ## Early life, education and career Hussein holds a bachelor's degree in business and accounting from [[Saint Mary's University of Minnesota]].[^2] In 2023 he completed an M.A.P.L. in advocacy and political leadership at [[Metropolitan State University]].[^2] In 2015 Hussein ran unsuccessfully against Dai Thao, the Ward 1 member of the [[Saint Paul City Council]].[^4] During the contest, Thao disputed many of Hussein's delegates on the ground that they lived in [[Minneapolis]] rather than Saint Paul. Hussein's campaign manager described those claims as "absolutely baseless".[^4] The DFL endorsing convention ran for 10 hours and adjourned with no endorsement because neither candidate reached the 60% delegate threshold.[^4] At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Hussein sat in Minnesota's delegation as a delegate for Hillary Clinton. That delegation included more Muslim and Somali delegates than any other at the convention.[^5] In the 2017 Saint Paul mayoral campaign, he backed Pat Harris, a former city council member and senior vice president at BMO Harris Bank.[^5] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Hussein entered the 2022 race after redistricting and after [[Rena Moran]], the six-term DFL incumbent, announced a campaign for Ramsey County Commissioner. He won the seat that year.[^3] In the House he is vice chair of the Legacy Finance Committee. He also sits on the Capital Investment, Housing Finance and Policy, and Labor and Industry Finance and Policy Committees.[^3] ### Political positions Hussein backed a bill that would have guaranteed drivers for rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft higher wages, employment protections and improved insurance coverage.[^6] Both chambers passed the bill, and Governor [[Tim Walz]] vetoed it on May 25, 2023.[^6] Hussein was one of four Muslim legislators who denounced an editorial cartoon in the [[Star Tribune]] that they called racist and Islamophobic. The paper's CEO and publisher, Steve Grove, apologized for the cartoon.[^7] Following a suspected arson at a mosque in Saint Paul, Hussein said he would press legislators to hold those responsible accountable. He also called for solidarity with the Muslim community.[^7] ## Personal life Hussein, who is Muslim, lives in Saint Paul with his spouse, and they have two children.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), lead section — birth date, DFL membership, House service since 2023, District 65A in Saint Paul, Ramsey County. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Early life, education and career" — arrival from Somalia at 14; degrees from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University (2023). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Minnesota House of Representatives" — 2022 election, redistricting and Rena Moran's departure, first Somali-American to represent St. Paul, committee assignments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Early life, education and career" — 2015 Ward 1 challenge to Dai Thao, delegate dispute, 10-hour convention with no endorsement at the 60% threshold. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Early life, education and career" — 2016 Democratic National Convention delegate; support for Pat Harris's 2017 mayoral campaign. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Political positions" — rideshare driver bill passed by both chambers and vetoed on May 25, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Political positions" — Star Tribune cartoon condemnation and Steve Grove's apology; statement after the suspected Saint Paul mosque arson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Samakab Hussein* (revision 1365779266, retrieved 2026-10-26), "Personal life" — residence, spouse, two children, religion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samakab_Hussein