Munira Abdullahi

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Munira Abdullahi
Abdullahi in April 2024
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byBishara Addison
Personal details
PartyDemocratic
EducationOhio State University (BA)

Munira Yasin Abdullahi is both the first Muslim woman and first Somali woman to serve in the Ohio State Legislature.[1][2] She is the representative for Ohio House District 9. She won the primary on August 2, 2022, and ran unopposed in the November 2022 general election.[1]

Abdullahi is from a refugee family that left Somalia when she was three years old, moving to the US when she was five.[2][3] They moved to an apartment in the Northside neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.[2] She has type 1 diabetes.[2] Abdullahi graduated from Columbus Alternative High School and completed a bachelor's degree in political science at Ohio State University.[1][2] Prior to entering politics, Abdullahi worked as a paralegal and community activist.[4] Abdullahi was endorsed by a variety of groups, including Planned Parenthood and Ohio State Medical Association.[4]

Abdullahi is an advocate for expanded voting rights and opposed attempts to infringe on new citizen's voting abilities in 2024.[5] She has backed congressional term limits and insulin price caps.[6][3]

Committee assignments

Abdullahi currently serves on the following committees in the Ohio House:[7]

  • Workforce and Higher Education (ranking member)
  • Development
  • Finance

References

  1. "Primary results: Columbus picks a Somali American while Delaware ousts an incumbent". news.yahoo.com. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  2. "Columbus's Munira Yasin Abdullahi first Somali American and Muslim woman to serve at Statehouse | ColumbusFreePress.com". columbusfreepress.com. January 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  3. "First Somali American nominee for Ohio House is ready to address priorities". WOSU Public Media. 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  4. "Munira Abdullahi - Gongwer News Service-Ohio". www.gongwer-oh.com. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  5. "Rep. Munira Presses Secretary LaRose's to Answer Questions on New Citizens Voter Purge". Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  6. Velasco, Donna (2023-06-17). "Rep. Munira Abdullahi Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits". U.S. Term Limits. Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  7. "Standing and Select Committees of the Ohio House of Representatives, 136th General Assembly". Ohio House of Representatives. June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.