Abdi Warsame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abdi Warsame
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 6th Ward
In office January 2, 2014 – March 30, 2020
Preceded by	Robert Lilligren
Succeeded by	Jamal Osman
Personal details
Born	(1978-03-05) March 5, 1978 (age 47) Mogadishu, Somalia
Political party	Democratic
Children	4
Residences	Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater	Middlesex University (BS) University of Greenwich (MBA)

Abdi Warsame (born in 1978) is a Somali-American politician who made history in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He belongs to the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.

After moving from Somalia to London, he came to the United States in 2006. In 2013, he was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. This made him the first person of Somali heritage to win that position. He was re-elected in 2017. In 2020, he left the City Council to lead the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

Early Life and Schooling

Abdi Warsame was born in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. In the late 1980s, his family had to leave their home and moved to London to find safety.

In London, Warsame went to college. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Middlesex University. He later earned a master's degree in International Business from the University of Greenwich. In 2006, Warsame moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Political Career

Getting Started in Politics

Warsame became involved in politics in 2011. He helped with the campaign of Mohamud Noor, who was running for the state Senate.

Warsame also led a group called the Citizen's Committee for Fair Redistricting. This group worked to change the voting maps in Minneapolis. Their goal was to make sure the voices of the East African community were heard in elections. The city agreed and created new voting areas in a neighborhood called Ward 6.

Before running for office, Warsame was the head of the Riverside Plaza Tenants Association. This group helped people living in the Riverside Plaza apartment buildings.

Minneapolis City Council

The 2013 Election

Warsame gives a victory speech in 2013.

In 2013, Warsame decided to run for a seat on the Minneapolis City Council, representing Ward 6. Many Somali-American professionals supported his campaign and helped raise money.

The election had some disagreements. The other main candidate, Robert Lilligren, said that some of Warsame's supporters used unfair tactics to win votes. Warsame said these claims were not true. He stated that he told his team to focus on the issues and not on personal attacks. A special committee from the DFL party looked into the claims and did not find any wrongdoing.

Just before the election, a local businessman printed flyers with negative information about Lilligren. The flyers told people to vote for Warsame instead. Warsame's campaign team quickly announced that they had nothing to do with the flyers. They said the businessman was acting on his own.

On November 5, 2013, Warsame won the election. He became the first Somali American to serve on the Minneapolis City Council. His victory was a big moment for the Somali-American community in Minneapolis. It encouraged many people to get involved in politics.

Serving on the Council

Warsame was elected again in 2017 for a second term.

In 2020, he was offered a new job as the head of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. This agency manages public housing in the city. He accepted the position and left the City Council on March 30, 2020. He was the first Somali person to lead a major public agency in Minnesota. A special election was held to fill his empty seat, and Jamal Osman was elected.

Personal Life

Abdi Warsame is married and has four children. He lives in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. This area has one of the largest Somali communities outside of East Africa.

Election Results