Keith Ellison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keith Ellison
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Official portrait, 2018
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| 30th Attorney General of Minnesota | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2019 |
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| Governor | Tim Walz |
| Preceded by | Lori Swanson |
| Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee | |
| In office February 25, 2017 – November 8, 2018 |
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| Chair | Tom Perez |
| Preceded by | Mike Honda (2005) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – May 23, 2017 Serving with Raúl Grijalva
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| Preceded by | Lynn Woolsey |
| Succeeded by | Mark Pocan |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Martin Olav Sabo |
| Succeeded by | Ilhan Omar |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 58B district |
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| In office January 7, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Gregory Gray |
| Succeeded by | Augustine Dominguez |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Keith Maurice Ellison
August 4, 1963 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Kim Ellison
(m. 1987; div. 2012)Mónica Hurtado
(m. 2018) |
| Children | 4, including Jeremiah |
| Education | Wayne State University (BA) University of Minnesota (JD) |
| Website | |
Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician. Since 2019, he has served as the Attorney General of Minnesota. An attorney general is the top lawyer for a state's government.
Ellison was the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress. He was also the first African American from Minnesota to be elected to Congress. He represented Minnesota's 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2019.
Before his time in Congress, Ellison was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. In Congress, he was known as a progressive leader. This means he supports ideas of social and political change to improve society.
In 2018, Ellison decided to run for Minnesota attorney general instead of for reelection to Congress. He won the election, becoming the first African American to win a statewide office in Minnesota. He was also the first Muslim in the U.S. to be elected to a statewide office.
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Early Life and Education
Keith Ellison was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was the third of five sons. His parents, Leonard and Clida Ellison, were a psychiatrist and a social worker. Ellison and three of his brothers became lawyers, while the fifth became a doctor.
His family was active in the civil rights movement, which fought for equal rights for African Americans. This work inspired Ellison as he grew up.
At age 19, while studying at Wayne State University, Ellison converted from Catholicism to Islam. He said he was looking for a spiritual path that connected with ideas of social justice. He earned a degree in economics in 1986.
After college, Ellison moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota Law School. He graduated with a law degree in 1990.
Early Career as a Lawyer
After law school, Ellison worked as a lawyer specializing in civil rights and criminal defense. He later became the director of a non-profit group called the Legal Rights Center. This group provided lawyers for people who could not afford one.
Ellison also hosted a talk show on KMOJ radio and volunteered as a youth track coach. He believed sports were a great way to build community.
Political Career
Minnesota House of Representatives
In 2002, Ellison was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. This was his first time holding a public office. He served for two terms, from 2003 to 2007. During his time there, he worked on committees related to law and government.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 2006, Ellison ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and won. He became the first Muslim elected to Congress. For his special swearing-in ceremony, he used a copy of the Qur'an that once belonged to President Thomas Jefferson. This event received national attention.
As a congressman, Ellison focused on issues like fair wages, housing, and ending the Iraq War. He also worked on a law to protect people from unfair credit card practices. This became part of the Credit CARD Act of 2009.
Ellison served on important committees, including the Committee on Financial Services. He was also a vice-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of lawmakers who support progressive ideas.
Running for Democratic Party Leader
In 2016, Ellison ran to become the chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the main organization for the Democratic Party. He was supported by progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Chuck Schumer.
Some people questioned his past statements and associations from many years earlier. Ellison clarified his views and stated that he was against all forms of hate and discrimination.
He did not win the election for chair. The winner, Tom Perez, immediately asked Ellison to serve as deputy chair. Ellison accepted and held the position until 2018.
Minnesota Attorney General
2018 Election
In 2018, Ellison announced he would run for Attorney General of Minnesota instead of seeking another term in Congress. He won the election, making history as the first African American and the first Muslim to be elected to a statewide office in the U.S. He was reelected in 2022.
George Floyd Case
In May 2020, Minnesota's governor asked Ellison to lead the prosecution in the case of George Floyd, a man who died while in police custody. Ellison's office charged officer Derek Chauvin with murder.
Ellison's team also charged the other three officers at the scene with aiding and abetting, which means helping someone commit a crime. In 2021, Chauvin was found guilty on all charges. Ellison's handling of the case earned him national praise.
Key Political Views
- Economy: Ellison supports laws that give employees more power in the companies where they work.
- LGBTQ+ Rights: He is a strong supporter of equal rights for all people, regardless of who they love. He was a vice-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Caucus.
- Gun Rights: Ellison has said he supports "common-sense gun rules" to improve public safety.
- Iraq War: He was a critic of the Iraq War and called for an end to U.S. military involvement there.
- Iran: Ellison has supported improving relations between the United States and Iran.
- Human Rights: He has spoken out against human rights abuses around the world. In 2009, he was arrested for protesting at the Sudanese Embassy to support people in Darfur.
Personal Life
Ellison has four children with his former wife, Kim Ellison. One of his sons, Jeremiah, serves on the Minneapolis City Council. In 2018, Keith Ellison married Mónica Hurtado.
Ellison has written two books. One is a memoir called My Country 'Tis of Thee. The other, Break the Wheel, is about his experience with the trial of Derek Chauvin.
See also
In Spanish: Keith Ellison para niños
- List of African-American United States representatives
- List of Muslim members of the United States Congress
- United States congressional delegations from Minnesota
- List of United States representatives from Minnesota
