Ilhan Omar

“I think a big part of my faith teachings is to work together towards equality: that we're all created equal, and under the eyes of God, we all have a right to freedom and to access our rights equally.”

“I want to go to Washington to make sure we really have an opportunity to expand health care for folks so that is accessible to them.”

“This is a land of immigrants, and most come here for opportunity, a second chance.”

“Learning is not limited to the classroom, and Minnesota shouldn't limit its education resources there, either.”

“I find hope in knowing that I belong to a state that has a lot of people who are champions of change and progress; that we will rise up and fight for justice and equality; that, ultimately, love will trump hate.”

“Hope will be found by understanding that diversity is the essence of the American Dream and why we need each other to fulfill it.”

“Every student has something to offer, and every student deserves a nurturing learning environment.”

“We can all agree that we need to be helping small businesses. All of us can agree that the cost of higher education is too high, and college debt is too big of a burden for young people.”

“The house I was born in in Somalia was right next to a big market. A lot of beggars or panhandlers would be in front of our house constantly, and my grandfather and grandmother would always invite them in to have food with us and have them take whatever was left over.”

“Truly, this is a nation that sees itself as one that instills hope and is really about allowing people to pursue their dreams.”

“No Minnesotan should ever experience preventable health risks from breathing polluted air or from drinking unsafe water.”

“This country gave us hope. This country allowed for us to develop our own identity and to create our own home. And we should not look down on the next person that is trying to do that.”

“Since 2011, I am happy to say that I have reconciled with Ahmed Hirsi; we have married in our faith tradition and are raising our family together. Like all families, we have had our ups and downs, but we are proud to have come through it together.”

“We've become the party that wants to appease everyone and no one. And I think the only way that the Democrats become viable again is if we have people who have moral clarity and courage to say what they need to say and fight for what they need to fight for.”