Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born former refugee, was elected to serve in Minnesota’s state house of representatives in tightly contested elections last year.
Born in Somalia in 1982, Omar and her family emigrated to the United States in 1995 after the start of civil war in Somali.
Ms Omar has promised to be a “voice for the marginalised”
The election of Ms Omar, who is Muslim, came just days after US President-elect Donald Trump accused Somali immigrants in Minnesota of “spreading their extremist views”.
US president-elect Donald Trump during his 2016 election campaign, attacked the Somali community in Minnesota, US, saying: “Some of them (Somalians) are joining Isis and spreading their extremist views”.
