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Friends — You probably know that I am a refugee — but I want you to know a little more of my story to understand why I am in Congress today fighting for a brighter future. This is a longer email, but it’s important and I hope you read it to the end. My family fled civil war in Somalia when I was a young child for a refugee camp in Kenya. We didn’t always have enough food or running water — but I had hope that one day we would start a new life in America. A few years later, my hopes became a reality and we eventually settled in Minneapolis. I realized that politics could be a vehicle for hope at a young age, helping translate for my grandfather at Minnesota Democratic—Farmer—Labor Party caucuses. It wasn’t always easy — I was bullied in school and even remember kids putting chewing gum in my hijab. But I never lost sight of the American Dream. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of jobs, working as a cashier, a nutrition educator, an organizer, and more. I understand many of the struggles people face today because of my experiences. I was a first-generation college student with young children, burdened with student loan debt. I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and not know when your next meal will come. In the richest country in the world, no one should go without food or a roof over their head, or struggle to afford the healthcare they need. The American Dream needs to be accessible to everyone — not just the ultra-wealthy. That’s why I organized to elect strong progressives in my community and eventually ran for office myself. I served my community as a member of the Minnesota State House and decided to run for Congress, winning election the night Democrats took back the House majority in 2018. Every day since, I’ve fought to pass bold policies that center the needs of the people, from Medicare for All to universal school meals to protecting abortion rights. The status quo was threatened by our progressive movement and tried to defeat us in 2020 — and they’re coming for us again. Now, we have only a little over a week to out-organize our conservative primary opponent. That starts with reaching tomorrow’s huge fundraising deadline so we have the resources to get out the vote every day until the primary. If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: I will never stop fighting to give everyone a shot at the American Dream — no matter their income or ZIP code. Thanks for being a part of our movement to do just that. In solidarity, Ilhan Omar
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