Ohio Rep. Ismail Mohamed Delivers Victory Speech Entirely in Somali
After Tuesday’s primary win, Rep. Ismail Mohamed delivered his victory speech entirely in Somali.
Following his victory in the Ohio primary on Tuesday, Rep. Ismail Mohamed, an immigrant from Somalia, delivered his victory speech entirely in Somali without one word of English.
Mohamed’s district in Columbus, Ohio, is home to more than 45,000 Somalis. He campaigned primarily in Somali, promising to “represent the interests of Somalia.”
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Mohamed, the incumbent in the district, defeated fellow Somali immigrant Abdirizak Diini, capturing 55 percent to Diini’s 33 percent.
He said he is running to “ensure every student has access to high-quality, equitable education,” and to advocate for funding to support affordable, accessible housing and secure neighborhoods.
