Republican gubernatorial hopeful Lisa Demuth aired a 30‑second television spot this month that singles out “Somali gangs” and references a planned terrorist attack by a Somali illegal immigrant at the Mall of America. The ad, which also mentions shootings near Eden Prairie High School and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, has ignited sharp criticism from local religious leaders and scholars.
Ad content and immediate reaction
In the spot, Demuth stands outside the Mall of America and declares, “A Somali American man arrested for a terrorist attack planned for right here. This is not who we are.” She then appears at the Eden Prairie High School football field, referencing a recent homecoming‑game shooting, and later at the basketball court of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, noting a September gunfire incident involving Somali youth. The ad concludes with Demuth stating, “Enough is enough.”
Imam Hassan Dhooye, who leads the Al‑Hikmah Islamic Center in Minneapolis, denounced the advertisement as a “explicit racial attack in paid political form,” adding that the Somali community came to Minnesota to work, worship, raise families and contribute.
Community and party perspectives
Not all Somali voices condemned the ad. Mohamed Amin, a longtime Republican Party of Minnesota activist, argued that Demuth was merely “stating the facts” about specific incidents and that the ad did not target the entire community. “Stating the facts is not a problem,” Amin told the Sahan Journal, “but these facts are political and give a political advantage.” He also noted that Demuth, as former Minnesota House speaker, oversaw a bipartisan resolution supporting the Somali community during the last legislative session, emphasizing that “it’s not in her heart; it’s not in her Christian values.”
Academic analysis
University of Minnesota political science professor Michael Minta described the ad as employing implicit racial appeals, aiming at subconscious bias rather than overtly naming race. He compared the tactic to the 1988 Willie Horton ad and noted that the ad focuses on crime without mentioning white perpetrators involved in other high‑profile incidents, such as the Annunciation Catholic School shooting.
Minta also pointed out that the ad may exploit fissures within Minnesota’s Black community, noting that “Black is a pan‑ethnic identity, and there are divisions between long‑standing Black residents and newer immigrant groups.” He labeled the ad “very racist,” reflecting his personal assessment.
Political context
Demuth is challenging incumbent Democrat Amy Klobuchar for governor. If elected, she would become the first Black woman governor in the United States. Recent polling, however, shows Demuth trailing Klobuchar, though the specific numbers and methodology were not disclosed in the source.
The ad arrives amid heightened rhetoric against Somali communities that began last year when President Donald Trump referred to the group as “garbage.” The Trump administration’s statement is included to illustrate the broader national discourse influencing state campaigns.
What’s next
The controversy is likely to shape the final weeks of the campaign, with both sides expected to use the issue to mobilize their bases. Community leaders have urged voters to consider the moral implications of using an entire ethnic group as a political prop, emphasizing that the answer will be “not with anger, but with votes.”
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
