Keith Ellison (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1. REDIRECT Template:pp-semi-protected

Keith Ellison
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 4, 2007–
Preceded by	Martin Olav Sabo
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Born	August 04, 1963 (age 43) Detroit, Michigan
Political party	Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Spouse	Kim Ellison
Religion	Sunni Islam

Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician belonging to the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He became the first Muslim^[1][2] to be elected to the United States Congress when he won the open seat for Minnesota's 5th congressional district (which contains the entire city of Minneapolis) in the House of Representatives in 2006. He is also the first African American elected to the House from Minnesota, currently serving in the freshman class of the 110th United States Congress.^[3] Ellison is also active on a national level in advocacy for Muslims in the United States^[4][5][6][7].

Contents 1 Life 2 Minnesota Legislative record 2.1 83rd Minnesota Legislative Session 2.2 84th Minnesota Legislative Session 3 2006 Congressional election 4 The 110th United States Congress 4.1 Staff 4.2 Committees 4.3 Positions 4.4 Votes with party in 100-Hour Plan 4.5 Opposition to increasing troop levels 4.6 Obama endorsement 5 Advocacy for Islamic causes 5.1 Council on American-Islamic Relations 5.2 North American Imams Federation 5.3 Muslim American Society and the Islamic Circle of North America 5.4 MOSES interfaith group 6 Controversies 6.1 Farrakhan and Nation of Islam ties 6.2 CAIR campaign contributions 6.3 Campaign finance violations 6.4 Nonpayment of fines and taxes 6.5 Quran Oath Controversy of the 110th United States Congress 6.6 CNN interview with Glenn Beck 7 New York Daily News & SITE Institute 8 Electoral history 9 Sources 10 External links

Life

Ellison's family has been in America since 1742.^[8] Keith Ellison, the third of five sons, was born and raised a Roman Catholic^[9] in Detroit, Michigan by his parents Leonard and Clida Ellison, a psychiatrist and a social worker respectively.^[2][10] Ellison and three of his siblings became lawyers while the other became a doctor. One of his brothers is also the pastor of the Baptist "Church of the New Covenant" in Detroit.^[10] Ellison's youth was influenced by the involvement of his family in the civil rights movement, including the work of his grandfather as a member of the NAACP in Louisiana.^[2]

He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1981 where he had been active in sports and the student Senate.^[10][11] At age nineteen, while attending Wayne State University in Detroit, Ellison converted from Catholicism to Sunni Islam. After graduating with a B.A. in Economics in 1987, he married his high school sweetheart^[9] and moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota Law School. While attending law school, Ellison wrote several articles in support of Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam which caused controversy in his 2006 election campaign. (see below) In 1990 he graduated with a degree of Juris Doctor.^[12][13]

As of 2006, Ellison and his wife Kim, a high school mathematics teacher,^[14] have four children born between 1989 and 1997.^[15] They are a daughter, Amirah; and three sons, Jeremiah, Elijah, and Isaiah.^[14] Kim is not a Muslim, but their four children have been raised in that faith.^[16] During Ellison's 2006 campaign, Kim Ellison revealed that she has been living with "moderate" multiple sclerosis for several years. ^[17]

After law school Ellison worked with the firm of Lindquist & Vennum for three years where he was a litigator specializing in civil rights, employment, and criminal defense law.^[12][15] Ellison then became executive director of the nonprofit Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis that specialized in the defense of indigent clients.^[15] Upon leaving the Legal Rights Center, Keith entered private practice with the law firm Hassan & Reed Ltd, specializing in trial practice.^[18]

In addition to his work for the Legal Rights Center, Ellison has also been regularly involved in community service. He served as the unpaid host of a public affairs talk program at KMOJ radio.^[15] His has also often volunteered as a track coach for several organizations, working with youth between the ages of 5 and 18. He said, "It’s a great community building device because it’s for all ages and all genders. Everyone can find a way to fit in."^[15]

Minnesota Legislative record

83rd Minnesota Legislative Session

In Nov. 2002, Ellison was elected to his first public office, as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives serving House District 58B. At the time he took his seat, his party was the smallest House minority in Minnesota history^[19]. During this session, Ellison was appointed to the Governmental Operations & Veterans Affairs Policy Committee, the Judiciary Policy & Finance Committee, and the Local Government & Metropolitan Affairs Committee.^[20] In this session he spearheaded an ethics complaint against fellow Rep. Arlon Lindner concerning remarks about homosexuals in The Holocaust.

84th Minnesota Legislative Session

Ellison carried 84% of the votes and was re-elected to the seat for Minnesota’s House District 58B in the 2004 election. He began to serve in the 84th Minnesota Legislative Session (1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007). During the 84th session, Ellison served on the Civil Law & Elections Committee, and the Public Safety Policy & Finance Committee. With his ascent to the National Legislature, Ellison's seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives was filled by Augustine Willie Dominguez, a Latino community activist and fellow member of the DFL.^[21]

2006 Congressional election

Main article: Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2006

Ellison's House seat was previously held by the retiring Martin Olav Sabo, and is one of eight congressional districts in Minnesota. ^[22]

In the primary, Ellison faced former state senator Ember Reichgott Junge, Minneapolis city council member Paul Ostrow, and Sabo's chief of staff Mike Erlandson, whom Sabo had endorsed. Ellison won the primary on September 12, 2006 with 41% of the vote^[23][24].

In the November 2006 election, Ellison faced Republican Alan Fine, the Green Party's Jay Pond, and Tammy Lee of the Independence Party. Ellison won the seat with 56% of the vote.^[25][26] Ellison is only the fourth person to represent the district since 1943.

The 110th United States Congress

Staff

On Dec. 1, 2006 Ellison announced he had hired Kari Moe as his Chief of Staff. She had previously served in the same position for the late Minnesota U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone.^[27] Ellison later announced that Brian Elliott (previously of the Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota) would serve as his District Director, and Trayshana Thomas (who worked with Ellison in his legal practice and throughout all stages of his political career) was made his District Scheduler.^[28]

Committees

Ellison was appointed to the Financial Services Committee. He said he intends to focus on wages and housing for "relief and justice for the middle-class".^[29] He will be joined on this committee by fellow Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN).^[30]

On January 10, 2007 Ellison was appointed to the Judiciary Committee^[31] by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA). This is a position he "had lobbied for" and he called his appointment "an honor and a privilege".^[30] He spoke of his goals for this appointment, "I look forward to pursuing a progressive agenda in the committee, including the restoration of American citizens' civil liberties that have come under increasing attack over the past six years."^[30] Other issues he intends to focus on while in this post are "community-oriented policing efforts, immigration, intellectual property rights and privacy concerns including the Internet."^[30]

Because of Ellison’s campaign position calling for an investigation for the impeachment of President George W. Bush, his appointment to the Judiciary Committee (which has jursidiction on these matters) was hailed by those in the Movement to impeach George W. Bush.^[32]

Positions

Votes with party in 100-Hour Plan

In his first week as a congressman, Ellison voted with the majority of other Democrats to raise the minimum wage, voted for stem cell research, and voted to allow Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices.^[33]

Opposition to increasing troop levels

Ellison joined fellow Minnesota freshman Democrat, Tim Walz, in opposing President Bush's plan to increase troop levels in Iraq.^[34] On January 10, 2007 President Bush announced his plans for the Iraq War troop surge of 2007. The gist of this announcement had been known around the capitol for over a week, and the Associated Press interviewed Ellison on his reaction to the idea on January 8, 2007, he stated that it was “way too late, way too little …So rather than do something small and ineffective, why not get about the business of what we're going to have to do eventually, which is to begin to end the occupation?”^[35] Ellison called for an immediate withdrawal in Iraq "We could describe it as a redeployment or withdrawal, but I think we have run the course in terms of our ability to resolve this conflict militarily. I think we need to have a political and economic and diplomatic engagement, and we need to encourage the forces that are in Iraq to begin to resolve the violence in Iraq.”^[35] When asked if he would support Bush’s call for an additional $100 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ellison said “I want to see (the request) first, I want to actually look at it, but I'm not inclined to continue to support a war or an occupation that he has no plans to get us out of, and which is so costly in terms of dollars and lives of American soldiers but also Iraqis.”^[35] The White House, when asked for a reaction to the comments, referred to a previous statement by press secretary Tony Snow, “Democrats will have to decide where they stand on two issues: ‘No. 1, do you want Iraq to succeed, and, if so, what does that mean? And, No. 2, do you believe in supporting the troops as you say, and how do you express that support?’”^[35]

Obama endorsement

On Feb. 20, 2007 Ellison endorsed the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama saying “"He speaks with a unifying spirit.” He said he supports “Obama's message of an open and fair economy, a balanced prosperity and clear opposition to the war in Iraq.” When asked about Hillary Clinton, he promised he would support whomever won the Democratic nomination, and felt that at this stage of the campaign Obama would “keep her honest”. ^[36][37]

Advocacy for Islamic causes

With his victory to the United States House of Representatives Ellison became the first Muslim elected to the Federal Government and the highest Muslim elected official in the United States. Ellison joins State Del. Saqib Ali (D-MD), State Senator Larry Shaw (D-North Carolina), and State Rep. Saghir "Saggy" Tahir (R-New Hampshire) as the only elected Muslim officials in the United States of America as of 2006.^[38] Ellison’s election has been seen as inspirational to American Muslims, encouraging civic empowerment through participation in the political process.^[39][40] Ellison generally “downplayed the role of religion in his drive for office”^[41], but since his 2006 election he has become active in advocacy for Islamic causes on a national level.

Council on American-Islamic Relations

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was an ardent supporter of Ellison’s 2006 campaign, a fact that caused some controversy (see below). Two days after the 2006 election, CAIR announced Ellison would be a keynote speaker at their annual banquet in Virginia less than two weeks later.^[42] According to a CAIR press release, this would be Ellison's “first major address” post-election.^[43]

On November 13, 2006 the Star Tribune reported Ellison said he “would not be the keynote speaker at the annual banquet for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)”. Acknowledging that “His appearance had already been announced by CAIR…Ellison said it [the apparently mistaken announcement] was the result of a ‘natural, normal miscommunication.’”^[44] Though Ellison was not able to attend the event in person he sent a videotaped address.^[45][46]

North American Imams Federation

On Nov. 18, 2006 Ellison gave a speech called “Imams and Politics” to the Fourth Annual Body Meeting of the North American Imams Federation^[47]. The Federation' materials presented the issues to be outlined in Ellison's speech as follows: "Many Muslims around the United States are involved in political activities at different levels. Recognizing the sensitivity of political issues and the potential for divisiveness within the communities as a result of divergent political views, Imams must be able to provide Muslims with the proper guidance and educate them on the etiquettes of any political involvement within the Islamic context. Questions also arise on whether Imams and Islamic centers should be involved in politics at all and what the extent of this involvement should be, therefore Imams should have the ability to address these concerns. Overall, it is important that Imams are aware and understand the general political climate of their communities and be especially conversant with the issues that affect Muslims."^[47] Ellison also took part in "Community Night" with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, and Imam Dr. Omar Shahin. This was “for Imams to meet and interact with community members.”^[47] Some of the participants of this meeting became involved in the Flying Imams controversy after being removed from an Arizona bound plane for concerning behavior^[48]. Ellison became involved in this controversy shortly after it erupted when he attempted to arrange a meeting between parties including US Airways executives, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, and other legislators and community members.^[49]

Muslim American Society and the Islamic Circle of North America

On Dec. 24, 2006 Ellison spoke at a convention held at Dearborn, Michigan for the Muslim American Society and the Islamic Circle of North America. The convention offered workshops and panels about civil rights, political engagement, and proselytizing. Ellison told the 3,000 in attendance "Muslims, you're up to bat right now... How do you know that you were not brought right here to this place to learn how to make this world better? How do you know that Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala (praised and exalted is he) did not bring you here so that you could understand how to teach people what tolerance was, what justice was? How do you know that you're not here to teach this country?"^[50] He spoke about how he and his staff have faced the difficulties brought out by the Quran Oath Controversy of the 110th United States Congress, "We had faith in Allah. And we patiently endured this adversity. And facing adversity bravely and with patience in the faith in Allah is an Islamic value. That's what it means to be a Muslim." He anticipated more challenges for him and all American-Muslims in the future "We're going to continue to face them. They're not going to stop right away. But if you, and me too, stick together, if we believe in Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, if we turn to the Quran for guidance, we'll find an answer to the questions we have. And we will find that we are an asset and a plus not only to our own community, but to this country, and to this whole world."^[50] "You can't back down. You can't chicken out. You can't be afraid. You got to have faith in Allah, and you've got to stand up and be a real Muslim.'"^[51] He again stated his resolve to use the Quran during his oath ceremony. He told the audience to look for a divine purpose in any hardship they might face "Before you begin to think that some hardship has befallen you, you need to stop and thank Allah. Because this controversy [over the Quran oath] has [benefited America because it]...made people dust off their Constitution and actually read it."^[50]

MOSES interfaith group

On Dec. 27 Ellison spoke at a meeting in Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Detroit for Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES). The meeting was with leaders from the Catholic, Muslim, and Arab-American communities, along with members of the organized labor movement. He told those in attendance that the princliples of Islam guide his life, but he has no intention of imposing his faith on others, ""I'm not a religious leader, I've never led religious services of any kind. I'm not here to be a preacher, but in terms of political agenda items, my faith informs me." He addressed the Quran Oath Controversy of the 110th United States Congress and said that "religion should be something that unites, rather than divide people...'They've never actually tried to explore how religion should connect us, they're into how religion divides us. ...They haven't really explored...how my faith connects me to you.'"^[52]

Controversies

Farrakhan and Nation of Islam ties

While a law student in 1989 and 1990, Ellison wrote several columns as Keith E. Hakim in the student newspaper, the Minnesota Daily. "The first article defended Louis Farrakhan against accusations of antisemitism "^[53], defended Nation of Islam spokesman Khalid Abdul Muhammad, and spoke in the voice of a Nation of Islam advocate."^[54]. The second column "called affirmative action a 'sneaky' form of compensation for slavery, suggesting instead that white Americans pay reparations to blacks,"^[53]. The third suggested the creation of a separate state for black residents^[55][56].

In 1995, Ellison, writing an editorial as Keith X. Ellison, stated that Farrakhan is not an anti-Semite^[57][58]. The same year, Ellison was identified as a member of the Nation of Islam in the Star Tribune.^[59].

In 1997, when Joanne Jackson, executive director of the Minneapolis Initiative Against Racism (MIAR), allegedly said that, "Jews are among the most racist white people", Ellison, using his religious name Mohammed, read a statement supporting her on behalf of the The Minneapolis-St. Paul Study Group of the Nations of Islam: "[We] stand by Ms. Jackson. We stand by the truth contained in the remarks attributed to her, and by her right to express her view without sanction. Here is why we support Ms. Jackson: She is correct about Minister Farrakhan. He is not a racist. He is also not an anti-Semite. This widespread and unfair practice of whites sanctioning blacks for not denouncing Minister Farrakhan represents a racist double standard, and is an impediment to any honest dialogue about race. If black people are to ever possess a collective sense of self-respect and self-determination, they must not genuflect whenever powerful whites make the unreasonable demand to denounce Minister Farrakhan. Minister Farrakhan said he did not like the tension between the black and Jewish communities, and that he was open to dialoge with any groups as long as they did not set any conditions."^[60][61][54] Ellison later claimed "While some at that meeting justified her comments, I spoke out in favor of increased dialogue between the Jewish and African-American communities."^[62][63]

In 1998, during his Minnesota State Legislature House campaign, as Keith Ellison-Muhammad he said he had an affiliation with the Nation of Islam, but "rejected anti-Jewish attitudes".^[64][65].

Questions about Ellison's involvement with the Nation of Islam arose during his 2006 campaign. After winning the Democratic party nomination in May, he wrote a letter to the local Jewish Community Relations Council where he reportedly "asserted that his involvement with the Nation of Islam had been limited to an 18-month period around the time of the Million Man March in 1995, that he had been unfamiliar with the Nation of Islam's anti-Semitic views during his involvement with the group, and that he himself had never expressed such views."^{[54] [66]} He also stated that he was never a member of the Nation of Islam, but only worked with it to organize the Minnesota contingent to the Million Man March.^[53][54]

In Ellison's letter, he denounced the Nation of Islam and Farrakhan, writing "I wrongly dismissed concerns that they [Farrakhan's remarks] were anti-Semitic. They were and are anti-Semitic and I should have come to that conclusion earlier than I did."^[67] He explained his previous views, saying that he, "did not adequately scrutinize the positions and statements of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, and Khalid Muhammed"^[62]. He also stated that "any kind of discrimination and hate are wrong. This has always been my position"

Despite his work with the Nation of Islam, Ellison was backed by the publisher of The American Jewish World, a local Twin Cites newspaper.^[2][68]

CAIR campaign contributions

During the 2006 election Nihad Awad executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), flew to Minneapolis. Along with James Yee (the former Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay), Awad spoke at an August 25th fundraiser for Ellison.^[53][69] According to the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Ellison accepted thousands of dollars from Nihad Awad and another leader of CAIR, “Awad donated $2,000 to Ellison's campaign in July, and at least one other CAIR employee gave $1,000. The donations are listed on Ellison's campaign finance reports, and he said he has nothing to hide.”^[70] Ellison stressed he was supported by individuals within CAIR but had not been endorsed by the organization itself, “…Nor am I endorsed by CAIR. Certain individuals have donated to my campaign”.^[71] His Republican opponent in the race, Alan Fine, criticized Ellison for accepting these contributions. Fine said that CAIR was "a group that Democrats say has deep ties to terrorism".^[72] The Fine campaign quoted Sens. Charles Schumer, D-NY, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill. alleging CAIR's "ties to terrorism" and "its association with groups that are suspect." Many conservatives and Jewish groups claim CAIR is rooted in the Hamas movement and that its leaders also secretly support Hezbollah in Lebanon. Fine went so far as to say "CAIR is to Muslims as the Ku Klux Klan is to Christians."^[73] During the 2006 election Independence Party candidate Tammy Lee also accused CAIR of having secret ties to Hamas.^[74] CAIR director Nihad Awad has known Ellison since they both attended the University of Minnesota,^[10] “Ellison has called founder Nihad Awad an acquaintance”.^[73]

In response to Ellison's opponents, CAIR leaders Parvez Ahmed and Nihad Awad wrote "We are proud of our personal donations to Ellison's campaign" and derided any 'guilt by association' arguments.^[75] During this time the "Not in the Name of Islam" paid advertisement began appearing on Minnesota television channels for the first time, with Communications Director of CAIR-Florida Ahmed Bedier coordinating the ad campaign.

During October 2006, Ellison traveled to Florida on a fundraising tour that "included a party hosted by Altaf Ali, CAIR's state director there".^[74][76] The party had a suggested donation of $100.^[77] Since winning the 2006 election, Ellison and CAIR have continued their association.(see above)

Campaign finance violations

Campaign finance has also been an issue for Ellison. In early 2006, the Minnesota State Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board reprimanded Ellison for unreported contributions, discrepancies in cash balances, and misclassified disbursements. These transgressions occurred in the years 2002-2004. In 2005 when the board tried to get more information about the problems in Ellison's reports, they got no response from Ellison or his treasurer (his wife Kim). When the board heard nothing, they opened the investigation. Ellison was subpoenaed and fined.^[78][79] The board has also fined Ellison numerous times for late filings,^[80] been sued twice by the attorney general, and has been warned many times for absent or incomplete disclosure. ^{[66][53][81][82]}

Nonpayment of fines and taxes

Ellison's license to drive an automobile has been suspended multiple times for failure to pay tickets and fines. When asked in 2006 how many times his license has been suspended, he said, "I don't know how many prior suspensions I've had; I don't keep count."^[66]

Ellison also failed to pay all or part of his income taxes in five separate years between 1992 and 2000, forcing the state and Internal Revenue Service to put liens on his home. He later paid in excess of $18,000.^[83][2]

Quran Oath Controversy of the 110th United States Congress

Main article: Qur'an oath controversy of the 110th United States Congress

Because Ellison stated an intent to use the Quran instead of a Bible at his photo-op reenactment of the swearing in ceremony (the official ceremony is done en masse without any books), Conservative columnist Dennis Prager wrote a column criticizing him.^[84] This drew responses from organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), The American Family Association, and The Anti-Defamation League.

Fifth-term Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA), responding to "scores and hundreds of emails"^[85] from his constituents after the Prager articles, has also stated his view that Ellison's decision to use the Quran is a threat to "the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America".^[86] He also wrote, "...if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran."

CNN reported that on the January 4, 2007 (the opening day of Congress), Ellison met Goode on the House floor to shake hands and Goode accepted an offer to talk over coffee.^[87]

That same day during his oath reenactment Ellison used a two volume Quran published in London in 1764 that was once owned by Thomas Jefferson^[88] and loaned to Ellison by "the rare book and special collections division at the Library of Congress".^[89] According to Ellison, "It demonstrates that from the very beginning of our country, we had people who were visionary, who were religiously tolerant, who believed that knowledge and wisdom could be gleaned from any number of sources, including the Quran." ^[90] Historian Kevin J. Hayes in his book “How Thomas Jefferson Read the Qur’an” explains that Jefferson purchased the book in 1765 while studying for the bar exam to become a lawyer (when he began questioning British Common Law after the Stamp Act Crisis).^[91]

CNN interview with Glenn Beck

On November 14, 2006, Glenn Beck of CNN Headline News^[92] asked Ellison to, "prove to me that you are not working with our enemies," saying, "And I know you're not. I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." Ellison replied that his constituents, "know that I have a deep love and affection for my country. There's no one who's more patriotic than I am, and so you know, I don't need to — need to prove my patriotic stripes."

When asked by Beck about his opinion on “Muslim extremists” Ellison replied, “They're criminals. But I think that people who commit criminal acts should be treated like criminals, regardless of their faith.”^[92] Ellison has also said, "Osama bin Laden no more represents Islam than Timothy McVeigh represented Christianity."^[93] (McVeigh had links to the Christian Identity commune in Elohim City, Oklahoma.^[94])

Asked about the incident later, Ellison dismissed it, "It's just shock TV. Some pundits think they have to ask the most outrageous questions."^[95] On January 2, 2007, Beck said on his radio program that Ellison did not take offense at the comments and the two had a friendly chat off the air. On January 9, 2007, at the Television Critics Association's semiannual press tour, Beck spoke with contrition about asking Ellison to “prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.” He said it was "Quite possibly the poorest-worded question of all time. That might come from my lack of intelligence."^[96]

New York Daily News & SITE Institute

After the 2006 election, the New York Daily News published an article describing comments participants in Jihadist chat rooms made about Ellison and his election victory. The News based their article on a report from the SITE Institute, a non-profit organization that monitors chat rooms frequented by terrorist supporters and sympathizers.^[97][98] According to the Daily News, messages were found in two jihadi chat rooms, including Al-Hesbah, which is "solidly tied to Al Qaeda Central, Bin Laden's network," and where many "Al Qaeda communiques" were first released. Participants in chat rooms called Ellison, "the first Jewish Muslim that goes to Congress", a "fool" trying to "deceive us," and "one of them, [a] one-way ticket to Hell." Another characterized the election as "a comedy". One said, "My God, if you have 1 billion Muslims like him, we shall [continue to] fight you as the Muslim fights the infidel." Ellison’s campaign “spokeswoman Bridget Cusick was not surprised by the negative comments in militant chat rooms, 'Why would Al Qaeda embrace Keith's success? He's the opposite of what they're about.'"^[99]

Electoral history

• 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - Minnesota 5th District^[100]

Name	Votes	Percent
Keith Ellison (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)	136,060	55.6%
Alan Fine (Republican)	52,263	21.3%
Tammy Lee (Independence)	51,456	21.0%
Jay Pond (Green)	4,792	2.0%

• 2006 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - Minnesota 5th District (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Primary)^[101]

Name	Votes	Percent
Keith Ellison	29,003	41.21%
Mike Erlandson	21,857	31.06%
Ember Reichgott Junge	14,454	20.54%
Paul Ostrow	3,795	5.39%
Andrew Vincent Favorite	470	0.67%
Gregg A. Iverson	448	0.64%
Patrick J. Wiles	347	0.49%

• 2004 Race for Minnesota House of Representatives - District 58B^[102]

Name	Votes	Percent
Keith Ellison (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)	10,796	84.1%
Jay Cyril Mastrud (Republican)	1,988	15.5%

• 2002 Race for Minnesota House of Representatives - District 58B^[103]

Name	Votes	Percent
Keith M. Ellison (Democratic-Farmer-Labor)	5,714	66.54%
Larissa Presho (Republican)	1,212	14.11%
Duane K. Reed (Independent)	726	8.45%
Bonnie Jean Smith (Green)	480	5.59%
J. Thomas Lijewski (Independence)	440	5.12%

Sources

• Minister Farrakhan never claimed to be a 'Malcolm X' - Minnesota Daily opinion by Ellison
• Affirmative action does not make up for past injustice - Minnesota Daily opinion by Ellison
• Keith Ellison may become Congress's first Muslim - The HILL.
• Keith Ellison dogged by his past - Minnesota Public Radio profile
• Let's not forget Ellison's support of Nation of Islam - conservative opinion by a Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist.
• Ellison responds to parking ticket concerns - KSTP news.
• Late filings a pattern for Ellison - Minneapolis Star Tribune.

External links

• U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison official House site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Keith Ellison at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Federal Election Commission - Keith Maurice Ellison campaign finance reports and data
• MPR - Campaign 2006: Keith Ellison profile from Minnesota Public Radio
• NNDB - Keith Ellison profile
• On the Issues -2006 Keith Ellison issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org - Keith Maurice Ellison campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart - Representative Keith M. Ellison (MN) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia - Keith Ellison profile
• Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Keith Ellison voting record
• Re-Elect Keith Ellison for U.S. Congress official campaign site

Articles

• Profile: Keith Ellison (Star Tribune)
• Ellison wins Dem. primary (MN Daily)
• St. Paul Pioneer Press Article on 5th District Congressional Race
• Washington Times Op-ed piece
• "Louis Farrakhan's First Congressman" article in The Weekly Standard
• Islamic Biography of Keith Ellison
• "The Lessons of Keith Ellison", alt.muslim editorial
• Katherine Kersten: Ellison's positions on crime clear
• CD 5 Candidate Forum, October 17 (Minnesota Public Radio)
• CD 5 Candidate Forum, October 10 (Minnesota Public Radio)
• CD 5 Candidate Forum, September 21 (Minnesota Public Radio)

Political offices
Preceded by Martin Olav Sabo	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th congressional district 2007 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent

Minnesota's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators: Norm Coleman (R), Amy Klobuchar (DFL) Representative(s): Tim Walz (DFL), John Kline (R), Jim Ramstad (R), Betty McCollum (DFL), Keith Ellison (DFL), Michele Bachmann (R), Collin Peterson (DFL), Jim Oberstar (DFL) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands