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Somali Americans, many who fled war, now seek elected office

In this undated photo provided by Munira Abdullahi, right, the Democratic candidate running unopposed for the Ohio House of Representatives, chats with potential voters in her home city of Columbus, Ohio. The 26-year-old is all but guaranteed to become the first Somali woman and Muslim woman to serve in the Ohio Legislature. Columbus is home to the second-largest Somali population in the United States. (Munira Abdullahi via AP) Mana Abdi, a Democratic candidate for state legislature, speaks with a resident while campaigning Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in Lewiston, Maine. Abdi, one of two Somali Americans in Maine seeking a seat in the State House this year, will run unopposed after her Republican opponent dropped out of the race. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Mana Abdi, a Democratic candidate for state legislature, speaks with a resident while campaigning Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in Lewiston, Maine. Abdi, one of two Somali Americans in Maine seeking a seat in the State House this year, will run unopposed after her Republican opponent dropped out of the race. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2021 photo, Deqa Dhalac, poses near her home after being elected mayor of South Portland, Maine. Dhalac, 54, who fled Mogadishu three decades ago, became the first Somali-American mayor in the United States. She is now seeking a seat in the Maine House. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File) Democratic candidate for Ohio House of Representatives Ismail Mohamed poses for a photo in a Somali restaurant, Sept. 30, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. The 30-year-old could be the state's first Somali and Muslim man elected to the Ohio Legislature if he wins in the 2022 midterms. Columbus is home to the second-largest Somali population in the United States. (AP Photo/Samantha Hendrickson) Mana Abdi, 26, a Democratic candidate for state legislature, speaks with a reporter, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, in Lewiston, Maine. She is running unopposed. Her Republican opponent, who had posted on Facebook that Muslims "should not be allowed to hold public office," withdrew from the race in August. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Somali Americans, many who fled war, now seek elected office