Zaynab M. Mohamed, born on May 4, 1997, is a prominent politician affiliated with the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). Since 2023, she has served as a respected Member of the Minnesota State Senate, representing District 63, which encompasses southeast Minneapolis and parts of Richfield.

Mohamed’s journey to political leadership is deeply rooted in her immigrant experience. Having relocated from Somalia to Minneapolis’s Powderhorn neighborhood at the age of nine, she grew up immersed in the vibrant cultural tapestry of her community.

In 2019, Mohamed graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in human resources, laying the groundwork for her future endeavors.

Throughout her career, Mohamed has been a passionate advocate for underrepresented communities. She interned at Ayada Leads, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Black immigrant women in political engagement, and later served as a community advocacy manager for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota.

In this role, she played a pivotal role in advocating for legislative reforms, particularly in the realm of public safety, including the abolition of no-knock warrants.

Mohamed’s commitment to public service deepened when she joined the team of Jason Chavez, a Minneapolis City Council member, as a policy aide in January 2022.

Her dedication to community advocacy and policy reform propelled her to seek elected office, culminating in her successful campaign for the DFL nomination and subsequent victory in the general election.

Notably, Mohamed’s historic win marked her as one of the first Black women elected to the Minnesota Senate, alongside Erin Maye Quade and Clare Oumou Verbeten.

Furthermore, she holds the distinction of being the youngest woman ever elected to serve in the state legislature, a testament to her trailblazing leadership and dedication to advancing inclusive representation in government.

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