26 Facts About Hodan Hassan

Hodan Hassan was born on February 1,1982 and is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019.

Hodan Hassan served as an assistant majority leader of the House DFL caucus from 2019 to 2020.

Hodan Hassan announced that she will not seek reelection in 2024.

In 1991, the Somali Civil War led Hodan Hassan to seek refuge in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

Hodan Hassan is a mental health clinician and the executive director for Pathways 2 Prosperity.

Hodan Hassan has worked as a senior clinical social worker for Hennepin County.

Hodan Hassan argued for a less punitive approach to a proposed female genital mutilation bill.

Hodan Hassan served as chairwoman of the Somali-American Task Force, which offered feedback to US Attorney Andrew Luger on how to prevent recruitment from terrorist groups.

Hodan Hassan was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since.

Hodan Hassan first ran after 19-term incumbent Karen Clark announced she would not seek reelection.

Hodan Hassan was the second Somali-American woman elected to the state legislature, after Ilhan Omar was elected in 2016.

From 2020 to 2021 Hodan Hassan was vice chair of the Education Policy Committee.

Hodan Hassan is a member of the House People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, the United Black Legislative Caucus, and the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

Hodan Hassan was a member of a working group on police use of deadly force led by Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Hodan Hassan advocated for police reform in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, and criticized Republicans for "demonizing" Minneapolis.

Hodan Hassan criticized Minneapolis police for their handling of a traffic stop that resulted in the killing of Dolal Idd.

Hodan Hassan was the lead author of legislation to change the state constitution to add education as a "fundamental right", which she said could help address racial disparities in education.

Hodan Hassan introduced the "Increase Teachers of Color Act", which would increase bonuses for hiring out-of-state teachers of color.

Hodan Hassan introduced a bill that would add a personal finance course to Minnesota high school graduation requirements to increase student's financial literacy.

Hodan Hassan worked on legislation that would give women of color grants and assistance in starting businesses, and a bill that would increase advocacy and education on the negative health effects of using products to lighten skin.

Hodan Hassan authored legislation that would expunge cases that don't end in eviction from a tenant's record and expunge eviction records more than three years old, arguing that tenants deserve a second chance.

Hodan Hassan co-wrote an op-ed calling for a more racially equitable transit system, and investment in transit lines that run through historically marginalized communities.

Hodan Hassan has criticized ride-share companies Lyft and Uber for how they handle driver compensation, insurance and working conditions.

Hodan Hassan has been critical of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and during the 2021 Minneapolis mayoral election, she did not endorse Frey, and signed on to a letter that advocated for a "new mayor" who would do more to end racial disparities and increase public safety.

In 2019, Hodan Hassan signed a letter of support for Representative Ilhan Omar after she was accused of making antisemitic comments.

Hodan Hassan has two children and resides in the Ventura Village neighborhood in Minneapolis.