Congresswoman Omar is the Democracy Champion We Need in D.C.
MINNEAPOLIS- Minnesota State Representative Emma Greenman explains why she’s supporting Congresswoman Ilhan Omar.
As a voting rights lawyer, I’ve been on the frontlines of this fight to protect the freedom to vote. Protecting and strengthening multi-racial, multi-generational democracy is why I ran for office and I’m proud to serve the people of District 63B in the Minnesota State House of Representatives. Together, in my South Minneapolis district and across the state, we have been building the people-powered politics that delivered record turnout and a strong mandate to protect and strengthen our democracy. With that mandate, we expanded access to the ballot by restoring the right to vote and passing my Democracy for the People Act in 2023 and this year, passing the strongest voter protection laws in the country — the Minnesota Voting Rights Act.
But the threats to our democracy cannot be defeated with one election, or in any one state; and inclusive democracy takes more than just one great legislative session to protect. Our delegation of democracy champions in Congress — Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Tina Smith and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar — know this well and are working so hard to extend these critical protections nationwide. Here in the 5th Congressional District, we are lucky to have a Congresswoman that has prioritized the fight for voting rights and consistently demonstrated her commitment to this cause. Congresswoman’s very first bill in Congress was HR 1 — the “For the People Act.”
As a national voting rights lawyer, I’ve worked hard to advocate for the “For the People Act,” a comprehensive package of legislation designed to make it easier, not harder, for people to have a voice in their government. It extends nation-wide many pro-voter policy reforms that we have already adopted — automatic voter registration, same-day registration, and expanded early and absentee voting. It would ensure that every American has the same access to the ballot that we have worked hard to guarantee here in Minnesota. HF 1 will also adopt nationally something that we are still working to pass in Minnesota — an end to partisan gerrymandering to ensure communities are represented fairly by having independent commissions, not politicians, draw redistricting maps.
2024 is a make or break year for our democracy and it is critical that we have dedicated partners in Congress with a proven commitment to fighting to protect and expand the freedom to vote for every eligible American. I trust Congresswoman Omar’s unwavering dedication to this fight for our democracy and it’s why I’m casting my ballot for her on August 13th.
