Saint Paul, Minn. (January 16, 2023) – Today, Women Winning, Minnesota’s largest women’s political organization, announced the endorsement of pro-choice champion Representative Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota U.S. House District 5.
“For years, Representative Ilhan Omar has been a pioneering force and advocate for the cause of Reproductive Justice for all Minnesotans in our nation’s capital. Since the beginning of her time in Congress, she has consistently championed and endorsed legislative measures aimed at safeguarding the rights of women and birthing people to access abortion care, including her co-sponsorship of the groundbreaking Women’s Health Protection Act. Her unwavering dedication to bodily autonomy and proven track record of supporting Reproductive Justice positions make her the best choice for Minnesotans in the 5th,” said Nevada Littlewolf, Executive Director of Women Winning. “We take pride in once again endorsing Representative Omar for Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, and look forward to helping send her back to Washington in 2024.”
“Women Winning has been a champion for reproductive rights in Minnesota. They’ve had my back since I was first elected to Congress, and I’m proud to have theirs,” said Omar. “Together we will continue to fight the radical efforts of the anti-choice extremists on the Supreme Court and in Republican legislatures to take away our basic rights.”
Ilhan Omar’s love for public service began at the age of 14 when she was an interpreter for her grandfather at local DFL caucuses. Watching neighbors come together to advocate for change at the grassroots level made Ilhan fall in love with the democratic process. Her representation is built on co-governance with the constituents she represents. That includes monthly town halls, routine constituent service resource fairs, and a brand new district office. She has brought over $40 million to MN-5 in the form of community projects—including a brand new affordable housing facility for veterans in Robbinsdale, funding for entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis, low-income housing for people with disabilities in Golden Valley and St. Anthony, and much more. As a leader of the House Budget Committee and Progressive Caucus, she has continued to fight for the progressive values Minnesotans sent her to advocate for in Washington—whether it’s codifying Roe v. Wade into law, pushing for historic climate legislation, addressing the opioid crisis, or implementing an assault weapons ban. Her proudest accomplishments include negotiating a landmark public safety bill to secure major investments in local departments, including real accountability–the biggest effort to fight climate change in the history of the United States, and historic funding to feed over 30 million kids during the pandemic.
Women Winning has been working for more than 40 years to elect pro-choice women to all levels of public office, from park board to President of the United States. In that time, Women Winning has raised and contributed millions of dollars to pro-choice women’s campaigns, endorsed thousands of candidates, and has more than tripled the number of pro-choice women elected officials in Minnesota. The organization’s targeted endorsement program centers on competitive districts for pro-choice women candidates with the goal of electing a truly representative government and creating a more equitable Minnesota.
Women Winning will make additional endorsements in 2024 and will continue organizing to ensure reproductive rights are protected by electing pro-choice women up and down the ballot.
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About Women Winning
Women Winning was established in 1982 by a multi-partisan group of 25 women determined to increase the number of pro-choice women in public office. With more than 19,000 statewide members, Women Winning is Minnesota’s largest women’s political organization.
Women Winning’s mission is to recruit, train, and elect pro-choice women to all levels of public office. The organization runs a smart, strategic, and targeted political program focused on competitive districts for pro-choice women candidates with the goal of increasing the number of pro-choice women serving in public office. Women Winning offers robust, formal training, mentorship, and support from the time a pro-choice woman first considers a run for office to election day.
