Career Timeline of Ilhan Omar: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Ilhan Omar made an impact.

Ilhan Omar is a prominent American politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives (2017-2019), representing a portion of Minneapolis. Her congressional district encompasses all of Minneapolis and some of its adjacent suburbs. Omar is known for her progressive political views and advocacy on various social and economic issues, making her a notable figure in contemporary American politics.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2006: Community Nutrition Educator at University of Minnesota

In 2006, Ilhan Omar began working as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota.

2009: End of role as Community Nutrition Educator

In 2009, Ilhan Omar's time as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota came to an end.

2012: Campaign Manager for Kari Dziedzic

In 2012, Ilhan Omar served as campaign manager for Kari Dziedzic's reelection campaign for the Minnesota State Senate.

2013: Managed Andrew Johnson's campaign

In 2013, Ilhan Omar managed Andrew Johnson's campaign for Minneapolis City Council and subsequently served as his senior policy aide.

2013: Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator

In 2013, Ilhan Omar worked as a child nutrition outreach coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Education.

September 2015: Director of Policy Initiatives

As of September 2015, Ilhan Omar was the Director of Policy Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network, advocating for women from East Africa to take on civic and political leadership roles.

2015: End of role as senior policy aide

In 2015, Ilhan Omar's role as senior policy aide came to an end.

2016: Ran for Minnesota House of Representatives

In 2016, Ilhan Omar ran for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 60B and won the general election, becoming the first Somali-American legislator in the United States.

January 3, 2017: Term began in Minnesota House

On January 3, 2017, Ilhan Omar's term began in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

2017: Served in Minnesota House of Representatives

In 2017, Ilhan Omar served in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing part of Minneapolis.

2017: Assistant minority leader

In 2017, during her tenure as state representative for District 60B, Ilhan Omar was an assistant minority leader for the DFL caucus.

June 5, 2018: Filed to run for U.S. House

On June 5, 2018, Ilhan Omar filed to run for the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th congressional district.

October 2018: Criticism of Saudi Arabia's Human Rights Record

In October 2018, Ilhan Omar criticized Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses and the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. She specifically condemned the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, stating it should be the last evil act committed by the Saudi government. She also called for a boycott of the Saudi regime in October 2018.

2018: Authored 38 bills

In 2018, Ilhan Omar authored 38 bills during the legislative session.

2018: Criticism for Statements about Israel

In 2018, Ilhan Omar faced criticism for statements she made about Israel before joining the Minnesota legislature, specifically a 2012 tweet where she stated "Israel has hypnotized the world." This statement was considered by some as employing antisemitic tropes, leading to widespread criticism in 2018.

January 2019: Denounced Trump administration's recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuelan interim president

In January 2019, amid the Venezuelan presidential crisis, Ilhan Omar, along with Democrats Ro Khanna and Tulsi Gabbard, denounced the Trump administration's decision to recognize Juan Guaidó, the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, as Venezuela's interim president. She described Trump's action as a "U.S. backed coup" and said that the U.S. should not "hand pick" foreign leaders and should support "Mexico, Uruguay & the Vatican's efforts to facilitate a peaceful dialogue."

February 2019: Questioned Elliott Abrams' appointment as Special Representative for Venezuela

In February 2019, Ilhan Omar questioned whether Elliott Abrams, whom Trump appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela in January 2019, was the correct choice given his past support of right-wing authoritarian regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala, his initial doubts about the number of reported deaths in the El Mozote massacre in 1982, and his two 1991 misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair, for which he was later pardoned by George H. W. Bush.

February 2019: Controversy over "It's All About the Benjamins" Comment

In February 2019, after Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy threatened action against Omar for supporting the BDS movement, Omar responded to a comment by journalist Glenn Greenwald with "It's All About the Benjamins," alluding to U.S. $100 bills. This led to accusations of using an antisemitic trope regarding Jews and money in February 2019.

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February 27, 2019: Remarks on Allegiance to a Foreign Country

On February 27, 2019, Ilhan Omar stated that it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country, which was quickly criticized as allegedly drawing on antisemitic tropes. This prompted responses from House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel and House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey, leading to an online exchange on February 27, 2019.

March 7, 2019: House Resolution Condemning Bigotry

On March 7, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 407–23 to condemn "anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of bigotry" in response to Omar's remarks concerning Israel. This resolution was passed after controversy surrounding her comments, aiming to address various forms of prejudice on March 7, 2019.

March 2019: Addressed rally in support of Minnesota bill banning gay conversion therapy

In March 2019, Ilhan Omar addressed a rally in support of a Minnesota bill that aimed to ban gay conversion therapy within the state. She had previously co-sponsored a similar bill while serving in the Minnesota House.

March 2019: Criticism of Barack Obama's Border Policies

In a March 2019 interview with Politico, Ilhan Omar criticized Barack Obama's "caging of kids" along the Mexican border. She later accused Politico of distorting her comments. She clarified that she was contrasting Trump's policies with Obama's in March 2019.

May 2019: Introduced legislation to sanction Brunei over anti-LGBTQ+ law

In May 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced legislation aimed at sanctioning Brunei in response to a recently enacted law that imposed the death penalty for homosexual sex and adultery.

May 2019: Said U.S. foreign policy contributes to devastation in Venezuela

In May 2019, Ilhan Omar stated in an interview on Democracy Now! that she believed U.S. foreign policy and economic sanctions are aimed at regime change and have contributed to the "devastation in Venezuela".

June 2019: Introduction of the No Shame at School Act

In June 2019, Ilhan Omar and Senator Tina Smith introduced the No Shame at School Act. This act aimed to end the practice of marking and punishing students who have school meal debt. The goal was to ensure students wouldn't face humiliation or penalties due to their inability to pay for school meals in June 2019.

June 2019: Vote Against Border Funding Bill

In June 2019, Ilhan Omar was one of four Democratic representatives who voted against the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act. She opposed the $4.5 billion border funding bill because she believed it would fund organizations committing human rights abuses. She stated the crisis was inflicted by U.S. leadership in June 2019.

July 2019: Held press conference with The Squad after Trump's tweet

Following a July 2019 tweet by then-President Trump that The Squad—a group consisting of Ilhan Omar and three other congresswomen of color who were born in the United States—should "go back" to the "places from which they came", Omar and the other members of the Squad held a press conference that was taped by CNN and posted to social media.

July 2019: Introduced boycott resolution

In July 2019, Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution co-sponsored by Rashida Tlaib and John Lewis, supporting the right to participate in boycotts for civil and human rights.

July 2019: Statement by Israeli Ambassador on Entry

In July 2019, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, stated that "any member of Congress" would be allowed to enter Israel. This statement preceded the later ban on Omar and Tlaib in August.

August 2019: Ban from Entering Israel

In August 2019, Ilhan Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib were banned from entering Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the ban to Israeli law preventing entry to those who call for a boycott of Israel. The decision was influenced by their support for BDS and plans to visit Palestine instead of Israel in August 2019.

September 2019: Condemnation of Netanyahu's Annexation Plans

In September 2019, Ilhan Omar condemned Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to annex the eastern portion of the occupied West Bank, known as the Jordan Valley. She also stated that Israelis should not vote for Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli legislative election in September 2019.

October 2019: Opposition to Turkish Offensive in Syria

In October 2019, Ilhan Omar opposed the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria. She described the situation as a disaster, highlighting the displacement of civilians, the escape of Islamic State fighters, and accusations of atrocities committed by Turkish-backed rebels against the Kurds in October 2019.

October 2019: Controversy over Armenian Genocide Vote

In October 2019, Ilhan Omar voted "present" on H.Res. 296, a resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide, which led to backlash. She argued that the recognition of genocide should not be used as a political tool. Later, in November 2019, she publicly condemned the Armenian genocide at a Bernie Sanders rally.

2019: Became U.S. Representative

In 2019, Ilhan Omar became the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district.

2019: Condemnation of Sri Lanka Easter Bombings

In 2019, Ilhan Omar condemned the Sri Lanka Easter bombings. She tweeted that no person, regardless of their faith, should have to fear for their safety in their house of worship, expressing her solidarity with the victims and their families in 2019.

2019: Signed letter to President Trump to limit military force without congressional approval.

In 2019, Ilhan Omar, along with Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Rand Paul, signed a letter addressed to President Trump. The letter asserted that it was "long past time to rein in the use of force that goes beyond congressional authorization" and expressed hope that this would "serve as a model for ending hostilities in the future—in particular, as you and your administration seek a political solution to our involvement in Afghanistan."

March 2020: Omar marries Tim Mynett

In March 2020, Ilhan Omar married Tim Mynett, a political consultant whose firm received significant contracts from her campaign.

May 2020: Signed AIPAC-backed letter calling for continuation of UN embargo against Iran

In May 2020, Ilhan Omar signed a letter supported by AIPAC advocating for the continuation of the UN embargo against Iran. Her office clarified that it was a "narrow ask that we couldn't find anything wrong with," emphasizing her long-standing opposition to human rights abuses and that signing the letter should not be interpreted as endorsing the Trump administration's policy on Iran.

June 2020: Melton-Meaux fundraising

In June 2020, Antone Melton-Meaux, Ilhan Omar's opponent, raised $3.2 million.

June 2020: Supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis

In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Ilhan Omar supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis, which sought to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department, stating that the department had "proven themselves beyond reform." Omar hoped to see a new police department that would be modeled after the Camden County Police Department in New Jersey.

October 19, 2020: Streamed Among Us game on Twitch to encourage voting

On October 19, 2020, Ilhan Omar joined Ocasio-Cortez, Disguised Toast, Jacksepticeye, and Pokimane in a Twitch stream playing the popular game Among Us, encouraging streamers to vote in the 2020 election. This collaboration garnered almost half a million views.

November 17, 2020: Omar campaign terminates contract with Mynett's firm

On November 17, 2020, Ilhan Omar's campaign terminated its contract with Tim Mynett's firm, E Street Group, to avoid any perceived issues with campaign support.

2020: Reaction to Omar's Remarks Among Democratic Presidential Candidates

In 2020, Democratic presidential candidates had mixed reactions to Omar's controversial remarks. Some senators like Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders defended her, while others like Cory Booker found her comments disturbing. The controversy also highlighted concerns about anti-Islamic sentiment. These reactions occurred throughout 2020.

2020: Publication of memoir

In 2020, HarperCollins published Ilhan Omar's memoir, "This Is What America Looks Like", co-written with Rebecca Paley.

November 5, 2021: Vote Against Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

On November 5, 2021, Ilhan Omar was among six House Democrats who broke with their party to vote against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This decision was due to the act being decoupled from social safety net provisions in the Build Back Better Act. She expressed concerns about the separation of the two bills on November 5, 2021.

2022: Re-elected to fourth term

In 2022, Ilhan Omar was re-elected to a fourth term with 75.3% of the vote.

2022: Legislation became law

In 2022, Ilhan Omar's first sponsored piece of legislation, a bill to designate the central Minneapolis post office the Martin Olav Sabo Post Office, became law.

February 2, 2023: Removal from House Foreign Affairs Committee

On February 2, 2023, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a resolution to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This decision was based on what Speaker Kevin McCarthy called "repeated antisemitic and anti-American remarks", leading to a party-line vote on February 2, 2023.

February 2023: Removed from Foreign Affairs Committee

In February 2023, the Republican-controlled House voted to remove Ilhan Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, citing past comments she had made about Israel and concerns over her objectivity.

July 6, 2023: Opposed providing cluster munitions to Ukraine

On July 6, 2023, President Biden authorized the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine, and Ilhan Omar opposed this decision. Omar stated, "We can support the people of Ukraine in their freedom struggle while also opposing violations of international law."

July 18, 2023: Vote Against Resolution on Israel

On July 18, 2023, Omar voted against a congressional non-binding resolution proposed by August Pfluger, which stated that "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state." The resolution also affirmed the rejection of "all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia" and U.S. support for Israel on July 18, 2023.

October 16, 2023: Resolution Calling for Ceasefire in Gaza

On October 16, 2023, Omar signed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. She also criticized the United States' support for Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, advocating for de-escalation and peace on October 16, 2023.

March 2024: Raised First Amendment concerns opposing TikTok ban

In March 2024, Ilhan Omar opposed a bill that would ban the app TikTok if its Chinese owner did not sell, raising First Amendment concerns. She said: "We should create actual standards & regulations around privacy violations across social media companies—not target platforms we don't like."

May 2024: Support for ICC Investigation in Palestine

In May 2024, Omar voiced support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation in Palestine. She stated that the ICC "must be allowed to conduct its work independently and without interference," emphasizing the importance of impartiality in the investigation in May 2024.

August 2024: Criticism of Arms Shipments to Israel

In August 2024, Omar criticized the Biden administration's arms shipments to Israel. She stated that "if you really want a ceasefire, you just stop sending the weapons," advocating for a halt in military aid to promote peace in August 2024.