Brooklyn Park resident Arshia Hussain and Lake Street Council adviser Yusra Mohamud, both active in the Minneapolis‑area political scene, have turned their post‑election momentum into a formal political action committee. The new organization, Baddies 4 Progress, is designed to support progressive candidates throughout Minnesota and to keep young voters engaged in the democratic process.
From a mayoral campaign to a statewide effort
Hussain and Mohamud first connected after the 2024 presidential election and later met again at a town‑hall series. When DFL Senator Omar Fateh announced his bid for Minneapolis mayor in December 2024, the duo saw an opportunity to mobilize younger constituents. Their grassroots work – social‑media outreach, on‑the‑ground events, and personal storytelling about Fateh’s family life – helped broaden his appeal among students and first‑time voters.
Although Fateh ultimately lost the mayoral race, the experience demonstrated the power of youth‑focused organizing. “We were able to bring excitement to his campaign and make it more relatable to those who typically wouldn’t vote,” Mohamud said.
Launching Baddies 4 Progress
In September 2026 the pair formalized their efforts by filing the Baddies 4 Progress PAC. Their stated mission is to back candidates who consider “our families, our neighbors, our friends, our co‑workers.” State Senator John Hoffman, who has known Hussain since childhood, praised the initiative, noting that it “helps people understand that being civically engaged is about the collective and brings a new excitement to political action.”
The PAC’s first high‑profile event, held on October 25, featured livestreamer Hasan Piker and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. Tickets sold out within minutes, underscoring the appetite among Minnesota’s younger electorate for alternative voices. While some DFL leaders condemned Piker’s past remarks as antisemitic, Hussain and Mohamud argued the backlash highlighted a disconnect between establishment politicians and the issues that matter to young people.
Challenges and future plans
Both founders acknowledge the hostile environment they face. “We’ve received hateful and aggressive language, from bots to actual haters,” Hussain said, adding that anti‑Muslim, anti‑Somali, and misogynistic attacks are part of the daily reality for progressive organizers in the state.
Looking ahead, Baddies 4 Progress intends to focus on fundraising for local campaigns leading up to the 2028 presidential election cycle. Fateh, now a state‑wide advisor to the group, believes the organization can expand beyond Minnesota: “I’ve already seen how they have evolved from a city to a state. That’s the vision I have for them – to influence young voters nationally.”
Community impact
Local residents like longtime Cedar‑Riverside neighbor Sagal Ali note that the duo’s events translate complex policy issues into relatable, human‑focused conversations. “Their superpower is turning difficult topics into fun, understandable discussions,” Ali said.
By providing voter‑registration guides, candidate endorsements, and civic‑participation resources, Baddies 4 Progress aims to counter the voter apathy that many young Minnesotans expressed after the 2024 election. As Hussain put it, “The life of politics is for everybody. We are all supposed to be civically engaged, and this is how we can do that.”
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
