Abdi Daisane elected as first Somali-American legislator in St. Cloud

Democrat Abdi Daisane has been elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 14A, marking a historic milestone for the St. Cloud region. Daisane, 38, secured 52% of the vote, flipping a seat that has been held by Republicans since at least 2002.

Daisane, who is Somali-American, Muslim, Black, and an immigrant, described the victory as a rejection of division. The win is particularly notable given the demographic shifts in the area, where the nonwhite population has grown significantly over the last decade. Somali residents currently comprise approximately 8% of St. Cloud’s population.

In the same metro area, voters also elected Democrat Zach Dorholt to House District 14B and re-elected Senator Aric Putnam to Senate District 14.