27 Facts About Don Samuels

Don Samuels was born on May 13,1949 and is an American politician, activist, and non-profit executive who served as a member of the Minneapolis City Council from 2003 to 2014.

Don Samuels served one term as an at-large representative on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board from 2015 to 2019.

Don Samuels is the former CEO of MicroGrants, a Minnesota non-profit that offers small grants to low-income individuals.

Don Samuels came to national attention when he placed an unexpectedly close second to incumbent Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in the 2022 DFL primary for Minnesota's 5th congressional district.

Don Samuels was elected to represent Ward 3 on the Minneapolis City Council in a special election in 2003, completing the final three years of Joe Biernat's term.

Don Samuels was sworn in on February 14,2003, though a 2005 redistricting led to Don Samuels' home becoming part of the city's Ward 5.

Don Samuels sponsored Minneapolis' 2004 indoor smoking ban, whose provisions would later be adopted by the broader 2007 Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act.

Don Samuels initiated the Minneapolis "Ban the Box" policy, which removed the checkbox requiring applicants to indicate their felony status from most municipal job applications.

Don Samuels supported public financing for US Bank Stadium, the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, to replace the Metrodome.

Don Samuels briefly campaigned for Hennepin County Commissioner in 2012.

In 2013, Don Samuels announced a run for Mayor of Minneapolis and did not run for re-election to the City Council.

Don Samuels' term ended January 6,2014, when his successor Blong Yang was sworn into office.

Don Samuels was elected to serve on the Minneapolis Public Schools school board in 2014 as an at-large representative.

Don Samuels served for one term, from January 13,2015, until January 15,2019.

At the event, hot dogs were given away and Don Samuels called the police because he thought food was being sold illegally.

Police questioned event organizers to see if they were trying to elicit votes and Don Samuels later said that he was a supporter of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change.

In 2020, Don Samuels was among several Minneapolis residents who sued the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey, alleging they did not hire enough police officers as required by city charter.

In 2021, Don Samuels was active in the successful campaign to defeat a charter amendment that would have eliminated the Minneapolis Police Department.

Don Samuels launched a DFL primary challenge for Minnesota's 5th congressional district against Ilhan Omar in March 2022.

Don Samuels' campaign focused on crime prevention, Omar's support for the police abolition movement, and the unsuccessful call to replace the Minneapolis Police Department through a charter amendment ballot initiative.

In November 2023, Don Samuels announced another primary challenge to Ilhan Omar.

The campaign's launch will lead to a longer campaign period than in 2022, when Don Samuels mounted his challenge in March.

Don Samuels's campaign is being managed by Joe Radinovich, who managed his 2022 campaign.

Don Samuels supports limiting restrictive zoning policies that only allow single-family homes and proposes federal grants to help create neighborhood corner stores.

Don Samuels denies criticizing her appearance and instead he was instead criticizing her constituent services and that "you" referred to all politicians and not just Omar.

Don Samuels was born in Jamaica on May 13,1949, as one of ten children of a Pentecostal minister.

Don Samuels was the CEO of a non-profit called MicroGrants which issues small grants to low-income individuals and families.