View source for Keith Ellison

{{Short description|American politician (born 1963)}}
{{About|the attorney general of Minnesota|other people named Keith Ellison|Keith Ellison (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Keith Ellison
| image        = Keith Ellison portrait.jpg
| caption      = Official portrait, 2018
| alt          = Head shot of Ellison smiling
| office       = 30th [[Attorney General of Minnesota]]
| governor     = [[Tim Walz]]
| term_start   = January 7, 2019
| term_end     = 
| predecessor  = [[Lori Swanson]]
| successor    = 
| office1      = Deputy Chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]]
| 1blankname1  = Chair
| 1namedata1   = [[Tom Perez]]
| term_start1  = February 25, 2017
| term_end1    = November 8, 2018
| predecessor1 = [[Mike Honda]] (2005)
| successor1   = ''Position abolished''
| office2      = Chair of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]
| alongside2   = [[Raúl Grijalva]]
| term_start2  = January 3, 2011
| term_end2    = May 23, 2017
| predecessor2 = [[Lynn Woolsey]]
| successor2   = [[Mark Pocan]]
| state3       = [[Minnesota]]
| district3    = {{ushr|MN|5|5th}}
| term_start3  = January 3, 2007
| term_end3    = January 3, 2019
| predecessor3 = [[Martin Olav Sabo]]
| successor3   = [[Ilhan Omar]]
| state_house4 = Minnesota
| district4    = 58B
| term_start4  = January 7, 2003
| term_end4    = January 3, 2007
| predecessor4 = [[Gregory Gray (politician)|Gregory Gray]]
| successor4   = [[Augustine Dominguez]]
| birth_name   = Keith Maurice Ellison
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1963|8|4}}
| birth_place  = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|Kim Ellison|1987|2012|end=div}}<br />{{marriage|Mónica Hurtado|2018}}
| children     = 4, including [[Jeremiah Ellison|Jeremiah]]
| education    = [[Wayne State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Minnesota]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| website      = {{URL|https://keithellison.org|Campaign website}}
| module       = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Keith Ellison Speaks in Support of the Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014.ogg|title=Keith Ellison's voice|type=speech|description=Keith Ellison on his support for the Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014<br/>Recorded May 6, 2014}}
}}
'''Keith Maurice Ellison''' (born August 4, 1963) is an American politician and lawyer serving since 2019 as the 30th [[attorney general of Minnesota]]. A member of the [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] (DFL), Ellison was the [[U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|MN|5}} from 2007 to 2019. He served as [[Democratic National Committee#Deputy_Chairs|Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee]] from 2017 to 2018, and was a member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] from 2003 to 2007. In Congress, Ellison built a reputation as a [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] leader.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-21 |title=How Keith Ellison made the Congressional Progressive Caucus into a political force that matters |url=https://www.minnpost.com/dc-dispatches/2015/07/how-keith-ellison-made-congressional-progressive-caucus-political-force-matter/ |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>

Born and raised in [[Detroit]], Michigan, Ellison moved to Minnesota for law school. In [[2002 Minnesota House of Representatives election|2002]], he was elected to the Minnesota House and served two terms. After longtime U.S. Representative [[Martin Olav Sabo]] announced his retirement, Ellison announced his candidacy for Congress in the [[2006 United States House of Representatives elections|2006 election]]. He won the race and was reelected five times. His district included [[Minneapolis]], the state's largest city, and its inner-ring suburbs. In Congress, Ellison was a vice-chair of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]] and a chief deputy whip. He also sat on the [[House Committee on Financial Services]]. Ellison was the first [[Muslims|Muslim]] elected to [[United States Congress|Congress]],<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Michael|last=Isikoff |title='I'm a Sunni Muslim' |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16474497/site/newsweek |magazine=[[Newsweek]] |publisher=[[Newsweek Media Group]]|location=New York City|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106003610/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16474497/site/newsweek/ |archive-date=January 6, 2007 |date=January 4, 2007|via=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref> and also the first [[African American]] representative from [[Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite news |first = Neil|last = MacFarquhar|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/10/us/politics/10muslims.html|title = Muslim's Election Is Celebrated Here and in Mideast|work = [[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date= October 11, 2006|access-date = October 11, 2006}}</ref>

Ellison's profile was raised when he [[2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election|ran for chair]] of the [[Democratic National Committee]] in November 2016,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Cunningham, Vinson |date=February 27, 2017 |title=The Protest Candidate: Is Keith Ellison's D.N.C. Run Uniting Democrats, or Deepening Their Divisions? |department=The Political Scene |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=93 |issue=2 |pages=34–39 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/will-keith-ellison-move-the-democrats-left <!--|access-date=2022-08-11-->}}</ref> gaining support from progressive groups and U.S. senators [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Chuck Schumer]]. His candidacy prompted renewed scrutiny of his past statements and affiliation with the [[Nation of Islam]], which drew criticism from some moderate Democrats. Ellison lost to former Secretary of Labor [[Tom Perez]], who subsequently appointed Ellison deputy chair, a decision approved by unanimous [[voice vote]] of DNC members.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Eric|last1=Bradner|title=Perez wins DNC chairmanship|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/25/politics/dnc-chair-election/|website=[[CNN]]|date=February 26, 2017}}</ref>

In the summer of 2018, Ellison announced that he would not seek reelection to Congress, and would [[2018 Minnesota Attorney General election|run for]] Minnesota attorney general.<ref name="MNAG announce1">{{Cite tweet|first=
|last=Ellison|user=keithellison|url=https://twitter.com/keithellison/status/1004055826896687104|title=Today I am announcing my candidacy to be the People's Lawyer, and to protect and defend all Minnesotans as your next Attorney General.|number=1004055826896687104|website=Twitter|date=June 5, 2018|access-date=June 5, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name="MNAG announce2">{{cite web|first1=Briana|last1=Bierschbach|first2=Brian|last2=Bakst|first3=Tim|last3=Pugmire|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/06/05/minnesota-filing-deadline-politics|title=Filing deadline drama: Rep. Omar jumps into race for Congress|website=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]|publisher=[[American Public Media Group]]|location=St. Paul, Minnesota|date=June 5, 2018|access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref> He won the Democratic primary and defeated nominee Republican [[Doug Wardlow]] in the general election, becoming the first African American elected to partisan statewide office in [[Minnesota]], as well as the first Muslim in the U.S. to win statewide office. He was reelected in [[2022 Minnesota Attorney General election|2022]] with 50.4% of the vote.

==Early life, education, and career==

Keith Ellison, the third of five sons, was raised [[Catholic]]<ref name="MSTJuly19">{{cite web |url=http://www.keithellison.org/StribOpEd.htm |title=Keith: The value system that's behind my candidacy |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=July 19, 2006|access-date=January 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103224726/http://www.keithellison.org/StribOpEd.htm |archive-date=January 3, 2007 |via=keithellison.org}}</ref> in [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], by his parents, Leonard Ellison, a psychiatrist and Clida (Martinez) Ellison, a social worker.<ref name="RunningMan">{{cite news|first=Britt|last=Robson |url=http://www.citypages.com/news/running-man-6689842|title = Running Man|newspaper = [[City Pages]]|publisher=[[The Star Tribune Company]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date= August 30, 2006 |access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Olson_11-19-06">{{cite news|first=David|last=Montgomery |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/15/AR2009071503902.html|title=Profile of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the First Muslim Elected to Congress |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date=July 16, 2009 |access-date=August 19, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="smileyref">{{cite news|first=Travis|last=Smiley|title=Keith Ellison|publisher=PBS.org|date=October 2, 2006|url=https://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200610/20061002_ellison.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080209112411/http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200610/20061002_ellison.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2008|access-date=April 2, 2010}}</ref> Ellison and three of his brothers became lawyers; his other brother became a doctor. One of Ellison's brothers is also the pastor of "Church of the New Covenant Baptist" in Detroit.<ref name="Olson_11-19-06"/> Ellison's youth was influenced by the involvement of his family in the [[civil rights movement]], including his grandfather's work as a member of the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People|NAACP]] in [[Louisiana]].<ref name="RunningMan"/>

Ellison graduated in 1981 from the [[University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy]], where he was active in sports and a senator in the student government.<ref name="Olson_11-19-06"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Parent Newsletter for the Week of December 4, 2006 — Congratulations to all Our Newly Elected Cubs| url=http://www.uofdjesuit.org/|date=December 4, 2005 |publisher= University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy}}</ref> At age 19, while attending [[Wayne State University]], Ellison converted from Catholicism to [[Islam]], later explaining: "I can't claim that I was the most observant Catholic at the time. I had begun to really look around and ask myself about the social circumstances of the country, issues of justice, issues of change. When I looked at my spiritual life, and I looked at what might inform social change, justice in society ... I found Islam."<ref>{{cite news|first=Martiga|last=Lohn|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091302297.html |title=Islamic Convert Wins House Nomination|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date=September 14, 2006|access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/01/05/members-of-congress-religious-affiliations/ |title=Members of Congress: Religious Affiliations |date=January 5, 2015 |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=April 29, 2016}}</ref> After graduating with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[economics]] in 1986,<ref name="WSU">Wayne State University Commencement Programs, Box 4, Folder 43, Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University.</ref> Ellison married his high-school sweetheart<ref name="MSTJuly19" /> and moved to [[Minneapolis]] to attend the [[University of Minnesota Law School]]. He graduated with a [[Juris Doctor]] in 1990.<ref name="MN-Bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=58B |title=Keith Ellison (DFL) 58B |publisher=Minnesota House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924213222/http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=58B |archive-date=September 24, 2006}}</ref><ref name="condon">{{cite news|first = Patrick|last = Condon |url=http://www.baystate-banner.com/archives/stories/2006/07/070606-09.htm |title = Muslim seeks both House seat and a place in history |agency=Associated Press|newspaper = [[The Bay State Banner]]|publisher=Next Street Financial LLC|location=Boston, Massachusetts|date= July 6, 2006|access-date = April 25, 2009}}</ref>

After graduating from law school, Ellison worked for three years at the firm of [[Lindquist & Vennum]], where he was a litigator specializing in civil rights, employment, and criminal defense law.<ref name="MN-Bio" /><ref name="Making the choice" /> He then became executive director of Minneapolis's nonprofit Legal Rights Center, which specializes in defending [[indigent]] clients.<ref name="Making the choice" /> Upon leaving the Legal Rights Center, Ellison entered private practice with the law firm Hassan & Reed Ltd, specializing in trial practice.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Keith:bio, Keith Ellison for Congress |url=http://www.keithellison.org/about-bio.htm |access-date=January 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104173250/http://www.keithellison.org/about-bio.htm |archive-date = January 4, 2007}}</ref> He was also regularly involved in community service. He served as the unpaid host of a public affairs talk program at [[KMOJ]] radio,<ref name="Making the choice" /> and also often volunteered as a [[Track and field|track]] coach for several organizations, working with youth between the ages of five and 18. He said, "It's a great community-building device because it's for all ages and all genders. Everyone can find a way to fit in."<ref name="Making the choice" />

==Minnesota House of Representatives==

In November 2002, Ellison was elected to his first public office, as a member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] serving House district 58B. At the time he took his seat, his party was the smallest House minority in Minnesota history.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last= Khoo| url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2003/08/11_khoom_rightturnagenda/|title=A conservative sweep |website=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]|publisher=[[American Public Media Group]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=August 10, 2003|access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref> During this session Ellison was appointed to the Governmental Operations & Veterans Affairs Policy Committee, the Judiciary Policy & Finance Committee and the Local Government & Metropolitan Affairs Committee.<!--original ref definition? <ref name="03 MN El Dir"/> --> He also spearheaded an [[Lindner Ethics Complaint of the 83rd Minnesota Legislative Session|ethics complaint against Rep. Arlon Lindner]] for a speech Lindner made that Ellison alleged amounted to a denial that homosexuals were persecuted during the Holocaust.<ref name="RunningMan"/>

Ellison was reelected to his seat in 2004 with 84% of the vote. During the 84th session, he served on the Civil Law & Elections Committee and the Public Safety Policy & Finance Committee. Upon his election to Congress, Ellison's seat in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] was filled by [[Augustine Dominguez]], a Latino community activist and fellow member of the DFL.<ref name="Minnesota Public Radio">{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/08/5dist/ |title=Minnesota Public Radio |publisher=Electionresults.publicradio.org |date=November 8, 2006 |access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
===Elections===

{{See also|2006 Minnesota's 5th congressional district election}}Ellison's House seat was previously held by [[Martin Olav Sabo]], whose announcement of his intention to retire precipitated Ellison's candidacy. At the DFL Convention on May 6, 2006, Ellison won the party endorsement over nine other candidates, leading 2-to-1 on the first ballot, and winning endorsement on the fourth ballot. In the primary, Ellison faced former state senator [[Ember Reichgott Junge]], Minneapolis city council member Paul Ostrow, and Sabo's chief of staff [[Mike Erlandson]], whom Sabo had endorsed. Ellison won the primary on September 12, 2006, with 41% of the vote.<ref name="electionresults.sos.state.mn.us">{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20060912/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&CD=05|title=Unofficial Results Primary|publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State|date=December 25, 2006|access-date=December 25, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924220510/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20060912/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&CD=05|archive-date=September 24, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> One issue Ellison's campaign opponents raised was the repeated suspension of his driver's license for failure to pay tickets and fines.<ref name=excuses2006 /> Ellison had also failed to pay all or part of his income taxes in five separate years between 1992 and 2000, forcing the state and [[Internal Revenue Service]] to put [[lien]]s on his home. He later paid in excess of $18,000.<ref name="RunningMan" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kstp.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=168557 |title=KSTP Report August 16th, 2006 (Microsoft ActiveX) |publisher=Kstp.dayport.com |access-date=November 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210020400/http://kstp.dayport.com/viewer/viewerpage.php?Art_ID=168557 |archive-date=December 10, 2007}}</ref> In the November 2006 election, Ellison faced [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Alan Fine, the [[Green Party of the United States|Green Party]]'s Jay Pond, and Tammy Lee of the [[Independence Party of Minnesota|Independence Party]]. Ellison won the seat with 56% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|first=Aron|last=Kahn|url=http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/15957666.htm |title=Ellison breaks ground as Muslim, black|newspaper=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]|publisher=[[Digital First Media]]|location=St. Paul, Minnesota|date=November 8, 2006|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&R=ALL&PN=0000|publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State|title=Unofficial Results General Election|date=November 7, 2006|access-date=November 8, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613080441/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20061107/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&R=ALL&PN=0000|archive-date=June 13, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Campaign finance disclosures====

In early 2006, the Minnesota State Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us/|title=Minnesota State Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board|website=state.mn.us|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> reprimanded Ellison for events alleged in 2002–04, namely
* unreported campaign contributions
* discrepancies in cash balances, and
* misclassified disbursements, during his campaigns for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

In 2005, the board opened an investigation, and Ellison was subpoenaed and fined.<ref>{{cite web |title=Findings and Order in the Matter of the Committee to Elect Keith Ellison |url=http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us/bdinfo/investigation/Ellison_Keith_022406.pdf |access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us/bdinfo/Con_Agr/Ellison_Keith_022406.pdf|title=Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board Conciliation Agreement|access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref> Ellison was repeatedly fined for late filings,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/WebSearch_Servlet/processDirect.do?start=1&nr=25&i=global&q=Ellison%20AND%20board%20AND%20minutes|title=Compilation of Board Minutes in which Ellison was fined|publisher=Cfbreport.state.mn.us|access-date=November 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116070706/http://www.cfbreport.state.mn.us/WebSearch_Servlet/processDirect.do?start=1&nr=25&i=global&q=Ellison%20AND%20board%20AND%20minutes|archive-date=January 16, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> was sued twice by the [[Attorney General of Minnesota]], and was warned about absent or incomplete disclosures.<ref name="excuses2006" /><ref name="defensePost" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Late campaign reports were her doing, Ellison's wife says|last1=Lopez|first1=Patricia|date=July 15, 2006|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |last2=Kaszuba |first2=Mike |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Late filings a pattern for Ellison|last1=Smith|first1=Dane|date=July 8, 2006|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |last2=Doyle|first2=Pat|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|page=18}}</ref>

===Tenure===

[[File:Ellison-20070104.jpg|thumb|In 2006, Ellison became the first [[Muslims|Muslim]] to be elected to Congress. He was sworn in on [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s [[Quran]] by [[Nancy Pelosi]].]]
Ellison was elected to the House of Representatives on November 7, 2006, and sworn in on January 4, 2007. He received national attention for his decision to use an [[English translations of the Quran#Sunni translations|English translation of the Qur'an]], translated by British scholar [[George Sale]] in 1734, that once belonged to President [[Thomas Jefferson]] for [[Qur'an oath controversy of the 110th United States Congress|his reenacted swearing-in ceremony]], which generated both praise and criticism from political pundits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-07-001/ |title=Thomas Jefferson's Copy of the Koran To Be Used in Congressional Swearing-in Ceremony|date=January 3, 2007 |website=loc.gov |publisher=U.S. Library of Congress |access-date=March 23, 2017 |quote=When Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) takes his individual ceremonial oath of office on Jan. 4, it is to be with one hand upon Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Koran ... Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, requested to take the oath upon Jefferson's personal copy of George Sale's 1734 translation of the Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed (London: Hawes, Clarke, Collins and Wilcox, 1764). The two-volume work, which resides in the Library of Congress' Rare Book and Special Collections Division, is one of nearly 6,500 titles sold to Congress by Jefferson in 1815 to replace the Congressional Library that had been destroyed when the British burned the Capitol during the War of 1812.}}</ref>

At the time of his swearing in, Ellison said he intended to focus on wages, housing, "relief and justice for the middle class", and ending the U.S. involvement in the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ellison, on verge of historic first term, unruffled by critics |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=145716 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127093849/http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=145716 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |date=January 3, 2007 |access-date=January 3, 2007 }}</ref> Ellison was also a vocal critic of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|George W. Bush administration]], and sought a position on the House Judiciary Committee for oversight.<ref name="Trib 1-27">{{cite news |first=Rob|last=Hotakainen|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article24461086.html|title=Ellison says he won't pursue impeaching President Bush—for now|newspaper=[[McClatchy DC Bureau]] |publisher=[[The McClatchy Company|McClatchy]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=January 26, 2007|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> In his first week as a member of Congress Ellison voted with the new Democratic majority as part of the [[100-Hour Plan]] to raise the [[minimum wage]], for federal funding of [[stem cell]] research, and to allow [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] to negotiate [[pharmaceutical]] prices.<ref>{{cite web| title = U.S. House of Representatives Roll Call Votes 110th Congress — 1st Session (2007) |publisher=The Clerk of the House|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/index.asp|access-date=January 16, 2007}}</ref>

On April 3, 2014, Ellison introduced the [[Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014 (H.R. 4386; 113th Congress)]] into the United States House.<ref name="4386allactions">{{cite web|title=H.R. 4386 – All Actions|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4386/all-actions/|publisher=United States Congress|access-date=May 4, 2014}}</ref> The bill would make it easier for [[Non-bank financial institution|nonbank financial institutions]] such as [[Money services business|money service businesses]] to provide [[remittance]] payments internationally.<ref name="allAfricaMay7">{{cite news|last=Radio|first=Dalsan|title=Somalia: Congressman Ellison's Money Remittances Improvement Act Passed|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201405071137.html|access-date=May 8, 2014 |newspaper=All Africa|date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> Ellison said that "passage of the Money Remittances Improvement Act is cause for celebration for all diaspora communities, including the Somali and Hmong communities I am proud to represent in Minnesota."<ref name="EllisonPRMay6">{{cite web|title=Ellison, Paulsen, Duffy Applaud Passage of Money Remittances Improvement Act|url=http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-paulsen-duffy-applaud-passage-of-money-remittances-improvement|publisher=House Office of Keith Ellison|date=May 6, 2014|access-date=May 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508224135/http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-paulsen-duffy-applaud-passage-of-money-remittances-improvement|archive-date=May 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Credit reform====

On May 3, 2007, Ellison introduced a bill to outlaw [[universal default]], the practice whereby [[credit card]] companies raise interest rates on customers who are behind on payments to other creditors. The bill was supported by [[House Financial Services Committee]] chairman [[Barney Frank]]. Ellison, who described the bill as "the beginning of a whole credit reform effort we're going to be pursuing," also announced his interest in limiting high interest rates on credit cards and easing the process for those who have a legitimate need to file [[bankruptcy]].<ref>{{cite news|agency= Associated Press|title= Ellison's 1st Bill To End Bad Credit Card Practice|url= http://wcco.com/local/local_story_122152004.html|date= May 2, 2007|access-date= May 4, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004648/http://wcco.com/local/local_story_122152004.html|archive-date= September 27, 2007|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> This provision ultimately became law in 2009 as part of the "Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" portion of the [[Credit CARD Act of 2009]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Floyd|last=Norris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/business/economy/a-credit-card-rule-that-worked-for-consumers.html|title=Card Act Cleared Up Credit Cards' Hidden Costs|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 7, 2013|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Sumit|last1=Agarwal|first2=Souphala|last2=Chomsisengphet|first3=Neale|last3= Mahoney|first4=Johannes|last4=Stroebel|title=Regulating Consumer Financial Products: Evidence from Credit Cards|journal=[[Quarterly Journal of Economics]]|volume=130|pages=111–164|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=Oxfordshire, England|date=November 25, 2014|doi= 10.1093/qje/qju037|url=https://economicdynamics.org/meetpapers/2014/paper_126.pdf}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===

*[[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Committee on Financial Services]] (since January 12, 2007)
**[[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises|Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises]]
**[[United States House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations|Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations]]
*** Terms on Committee (and "Thomas" links at the Library of Congress): [[113th United States Congress|113th]] Congress ({{USBill|113|HRes|7}} – Dem's), [[112th United States Congress|112th]] ({{USBill|112|HRes|39}} – Dem's), [[111th United States Congress|111th]] ({{USBill|111|HRes|24}}) and [[110th United States Congress|110th]] ({{USBill|110|HRes|56}}).
*[[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|Committee on Foreign Affairs]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Mitch|last=Anderson|title=Ellison gets Foreign Affairs seat|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/37745864.html|work=[[Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=January 21, 2009|access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=207:press-release-ellison-accepts-appointment-to-foreign-affairs-committee&catid=1:latest&Itemid=16|title=Congressman Keith Ellison|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807010645/https://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=207:press-release-ellison-accepts-appointment-to-foreign-affairs-committee&catid=1:latest&Itemid=16 |archive-date=August 7, 2009}}</ref>
**[[111th United States Congress|111th Congress]], 2009–2010 ({{USBill|111|HRes|74}})
*[[United States House Judiciary Committee|Judiciary Committee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg/events/2012/0409.html|title=Connecting with Government with Representative Keith Ellison Event Information|access-date=October 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918153642/http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg/events/2012/0409.html|archive-date=September 18, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
**[[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]], 2007–2008 ({{USBill|110|HRes|75}})

===Caucus memberships===

*[[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Caucus Members|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71|publisher=Congressional Progressive Caucus|access-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref> (Vice-chair)<ref>{{cite news|title=Rep. Pramila Jayapal Elected as CPC First Vice Chair and Rep. Keith Ellison Elected as Vice Chair and Liaison to Labor|url=https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/press-releases/rep-pramila-jayapal-elected-as-cpc-first-vice-chair-and-rep-keith-ellison-elected-as-vice-chair-and-liaison-to-labor/|access-date=October 28, 2017|archive-date=October 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029121101/https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/press-releases/rep-pramila-jayapal-elected-as-cpc-first-vice-chair-and-rep-keith-ellison-elected-as-vice-chair-and-liaison-to-labor/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Congressional Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus (Vice-chair)<ref>{{cite web|title=Keith Ellison home » Issues » Civil And Human Rights » Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality|url=https://ellison.house.gov/issues/civil-and-human-rights/gay-lesbian-bisexual-and-transgender-equality|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-date=February 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203081819/https://ellison.house.gov/issues/civil-and-human-rights/gay-lesbian-bisexual-and-transgender-equality|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Congressional Black Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|access-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref>
*[[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|publisher=Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref>

==Candidacy for Chair of Democratic National Committee==

{{See also|2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election}}
[[File:Keith Ellison 01.jpg|thumb|Ellison sought the chairmanship of the [[Democratic National Committee]] in 2017. The post ultimately went to [[Tom Perez]], and Ellison assumed the newly created position of deputy chair.]]
In 2017, after acting chair [[Donna Brazile]] resigned, Ellison ran for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, along with [[Howard Dean]], [[Martin O'Malley]], [[Raymond Buckley]], and [[Jaime Harrison|Jaime R. Harrison]], chairman of the [[South Carolina Democratic Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/politics/chuck-schumer-keith-ellison-dnc.html|title=Chuck Schumer Backs Minnesota Liberal for Democratic Party Chairman|last=Steinhauer|first=Jennifer|date=November 11, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 2, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Ellison, who at the time served as chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, emerged as a top contender<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/keith-ellison-dnc-resistance-231575|title=Foes pile on Ellison in DNC chair fight|last=Strauss|first=Daniel|website=[[Politico]]|language=en|date=November 20, 2016|access-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref> and was viewed as a progressive alternative to the more moderate wings of the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/12/30/14062696/dnc-ellison-sanders|title=The DNC race has become another fight over Bernie Sanders when Dems need it least|last=Stein|first=Jeff|date=December 30, 2016|website=Vox|access-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref> The race was viewed by some commentators and analysts as a proxy battle between the Clinton and Sanders factions of the party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/democrats-clinton-sanders-dnc-233648|title=Democrats sweat Clinton vs. Sanders rift|last=Debenedetti|first=Gabriel|website=Politico|language=en|date=January 16, 2017|access-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref>

=== Support ===

In autumn 2016, Ellison was endorsed by both Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] and incoming Senate Minority Leader [[Chuck Schumer]].<ref name="DetrowEllisonTape" /> In November 2016, outgoing Senate Minority Leader [[Harry Reid]] endorsed Ellison for DNC chair.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/harry-reid-keith-ellison-231297|title=Reid endorses Ellison for DNC chairman|last=Strauss|first=Daniel|date=November 13, 2016|newspaper=Politico|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref> In early December Ellison's endorsements included the [[AFL–CIO]] and several elected officials in Congress, including senators [[Elizabeth Warren]] and [[Martin Heinrich]], and Representatives [[John Lewis]], [[Luis Gutiérrez]] and [[Tulsi Gabbard]], among others.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/keith-ellison-dnc-endorsements-232420|title=Ellison adds more congressional endorsements in DNC bid|last=Strauss|first=Daniel|date=December 9, 2016|website=Politico|access-date=December 15, 2016}}</ref>

=== Opposition ===

Obama loyalists were uneasy with Ellison, and began looking for a candidate to oppose him, holding meetings with [[Obama administration]] [[United States Secretary of Labor|labor secretary]] [[Thomas Perez]].<ref name="MartinLeftwing" /> In November 2016, the [[Investigative Project on Terrorism]] published a 2010 speech in which Ellison asked why the United States foreign policy in the Middle East "is governed by what is good or bad through a [[Israel|country of 7 million people]]. A region of 350 million all turns on a country of 7 million. Does that make sense? Is that logic?" His comments were interpreted as a reference to Israel. The [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL) effectively announced its opposition to Ellison's candidacy, issuing a press release saying that his statement "raises serious concerns about whether Ellison faithfully could represent the Democratic Party's traditional support for a strong and secure [[Israel]]."<ref name="DetrowEllisonTape">{{cite news|last1=Detrow|first1=Scott|title=Keith Ellison's Bid To Lead The DNC Faces Increasing Resistance|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/12/02/504166336/keith-ellisons-bid-to-lead-the-dnc-faces-increasing-resistance|access-date=December 6, 2016|publisher=[[National Public Radio]]|date=December 2, 2016}}</ref><ref name="NYT-Jewish-Uneasy">{{cite news |first=Jonathon|last=Martin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/us/jewish-groups-and-unions-grow-uneasy-with-keith-ellison.html |title=Jewish Groups and Unions Grow Uneasy With Keith Ellison |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=December 1, 2016 |access-date=February 23, 2017}}</ref> [[CNN]] also reported on his past support for antisemitic and radical organizations and individuals, particularly the [[Nation of Islam]] and [[Louis Farrakhan]], but said they had found no antisemitic writings or public statements by Ellison, and cited his public rejection of the group "due to its propagation of bigoted and antisemitic ideas and statements".<ref name="DetrowEllisonTape" /><ref name="KaczynskiAntisemitic">{{cite news|last1=Kaczynski|first1=Andrew|title=Rep. Keith Ellison faces renewed scrutiny over past ties to Nation of Islam, defense of anti-Semitic figures|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/01/politics/kfile-keith-ellison-nation-of-islam/|access-date=December 6, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that one of the Democratic Party's biggest donors, [[Haim Saban]], said in his 2016 foreign policy forum that Ellison is "clearly an antisemitic and anti-Israel person."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Jonathon|title=Question Facing Keith Ellison: Could He Lead D.N.C. as Part-Timer?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/03/us/politics/new-question-for-keith-ellison-could-he-lead-dnc-as-part-timer.html?_r=0|access-date=December 8, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=December 3, 2016 |quote=Haim Saban, one of the biggest donors in the Democratic Party, called Mr. Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, "clearly an anti-Semitic and anti-Israel person."}}</ref> Reporters from ''[[The Washington Post]]'', ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', and ''[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]'' have described this as part of a smear campaign against Ellison, and observed that Ellison's rivals agreed that Saban should apologize for the comments.<ref>{{cite news|first=David|last=Wiegel|author-link=David Weigel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/02/26/why-did-keith-ellison-lose-the-dnc-race/|title=Why did Keith Ellison lose the DNC race?|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date=February 26, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Marans|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/journalists-keith-ellison-smear-campaign_us_58435707e4b0c68e0481543a|title=Journalists Are Enabling A Smear Campaign Against Keith Ellison|website=[[The Huffington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date=December 4, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|first=Michelle|last=Goldberg|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/12/the_israel_lobby_is_smearing_keith_ellison.html|title=The Smearing of Keith Ellison Reveals the Warped Priorities of the Israel Lobby|magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|publisher=[[The Slate Group]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=December 6, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2016|language=en-US|issn=1091-2339}}</ref> Schumer replied to critics, saying that Ellison has supported pro-Israeli policies within the Democratic Party, telling ''[[The Atlantic]]'' that "while I disagree with some of [Ellison's] past positions, I saw him orchestrate one of the most pro-Israel platforms in decades by successfully persuading other skeptical committee members to adopt such a strong platform."<ref name="AtlanticSchumer">{{cite magazine |first=David A. |last=Graham |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/12/keith-ellison-and-the-battle-for-the-soul-of-the-democratic-party/509336/ |title= Keith Ellison and the Battle for the Democratic Party |magazine=[[The Atlantic Monthly]] |publisher= [[Emerson Collective]] |location= Boston, Massachusetts |date= December 2, 2016 |access-date= August 18, 2018}}</ref>

Opposition arose from Democrats concerned that Ellison, a sitting congressman, would not be able to devote himself to the position full-time. In response, Ellison pledged that he would resign from Congress if he won the election.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Daniel|last=Strauss|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/keith-ellison-congress-seat-dnc-chair-232313|title=Keith Ellison pledges to leave House if he wins DNC race|website=[[Politico]]|date=December 7, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref> Others opposed him on ideological grounds, characterized by [[NPR|National Public Radio]] (NPR) as representing the party's division in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary between centrist supporters of [[Hillary Clinton]] and the party's left wing, which backed Bernie Sanders. ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'' argued that Perez and Ellison have "essentially identical" ideologies.<ref name="DetrowEllisonTape" /><ref name="MartinLeftwing">{{cite news|first1=Jonathan|last1=Martin|title=Democrats' Leadership Fight Pits West Wing Against Left Wing|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/us/politics/democrats-leadership-fight-pits-west-wing-against-left-wing.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fjonathan-martin&action=click&contentCollection=undefined&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection&_r=1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Clare|last=Malone|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/tom-perez-isnt-as-liberal-as-keith-ellison-but-hes-still-pretty-progressive/|title=Tom Perez Isn't As Liberal As Keith Ellison, But He's Still Pretty Progressive|website=[[FiveThirtyEight.com]]|date=February 25, 2017|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref>

=== Results and creation of deputy chair position ===

By February 2017, Perez was perceived as the front-runner according to ''The New York Times''.<ref name="Perez in lead">{{cite news |first1=Jonathan |last1=Martin |first2=Alexander |last2=Burns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/23/us/democrats-dnc-chairman-trump-keith-ellison-tom-perez.html?_r=0 |title=Weakened Democrats Bow to Voters, Opting for Total War on Trump |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=February 23, 2017 |access-date=August 18, 2018|quote=In the race for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, which concludes with a vote in Atlanta on Saturday, the restive mood of liberal activists has buoyed a pair of insurgents, Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., against the perceived front-runner, Thomas E. Perez.}}</ref> A member of [[The Young Turks]] spotted Ellison and Perez dining together a week before the election was held. Upon being elected chair, Perez quickly motioned for Ellison to be elected "deputy chair", saying, "it is a motion that I have discussed with a good friend, and his name is Keith Ellison." The two newly elected chairs worked together when Perez was labor secretary, and he has regarded Ellison as one of his "best allies".<ref>{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/319840-ellison-perez-dine-in-dc-days-before-dnc-elections/|title=Ellison, Perez dine in DC days before Dem Party elections|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.|location=Washington DC|date=February 16, 2017|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jesse|last=Byrnes|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/321191-perez-appoints-ellison-deputy-dnc-chair/|title=Perez appoints Ellison deputy DNC chair|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|publisher=capitol Hill Publishing|location=Washington DC|date=February 25, 2017|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://live.democrats.org/|title=Democrats Live|website=live.Democrats.org|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> The position of "deputy chair" does not exist in the DNC's bylaws.<ref name="interceptdeputychair">{{cite news|first=Zaid|last=Jilani|title=Keith Ellison Loses DNC Race After Heated Campaign Targeting Him for His Views on Palestine |url=https://theintercept.com/2017/02/25/keith-ellison-loses-dnc-race-after-heated-campaign-targeting-him-for-his-views-on-palestine/ |newspaper=[[The Intercept]]|publisher=[[First Look Media]]|location=New York City|date=February 25, 2017|access-date=August 18, 2018 }}</ref> On November 8, 2018, Ellison resigned as deputy chair to focus on his upcoming tenure as [[Attorney General of Minnesota]].<ref name="DeputyResign">{{Cite tweet|number=1060670709041643522|user=JakeSherman|title=NEW... Tom Perez just emailed this note, saying Keith Ellison has stepped down from DNC to focus on his new job as atty gen of Minnesota.|author=Sherman, Jake|date=November 8, 2018}}</ref>

==Minnesota Attorney General==

===Election===
{{main|2018 Minnesota Attorney General election}}

On June 5, 2018, Ellison announced that he would not seek reelection to a seventh term in Congress in 2018, but would instead [[Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018|run for]] [[Attorney General of Minnesota|Minnesota Attorney General]].<ref name="MNAG announce1" /><ref name="MNAG announce2" /> On August 14, Ellison won the Democratic primary with 49.8% of the vote, a little more than 30% over his nearest rival.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/AttorneyGeneral/114?id=st&officeInElectionId=17118 |website=[[Minnesota Secretary of State]] |title=Unofficial results of the 2018 Minnesota Attorney General Primary Election |access-date=November 9, 2021 }}</ref> In the general election Ellison faced Republican [[Doug Wardlow]];<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bierschbach|first1=Briana|title=The campaign to become Minnesota's next attorney general is crowded, intense — and very much under the radar|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2018/01/campaign-become-minnesotas-next-attorney-general-crowded-intense-and-very-mu|access-date=January 17, 2018|work=[[MinnPost]]|date=January 10, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Featherly |first1=Kevin |title=As attorney general, Doug Wardlow would insist on 'rule of law' |url=https://minnlawyer.com/2018/07/20/wardlow-would-insist-on-rule-of-law/ |access-date=July 26, 2018 |work=Minnesota Lawyer |publisher=[[BridgeTower Media]] |date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> [[Grassroots–Legalize Cannabis Party]] candidate Noah Johnson endorsed Ellison, but remained on the general election ballot.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Van Berkel |first1=Jessie |title=Legalize Cannabis candidate endorses Keith Ellison for attorney general |url=http://www.startribune.com/legal-marijuana-now-candidate-endorses-keith-ellison-for-attorney-general/497572521/ |access-date=October 19, 2018 |work=[[Star Tribune]] |date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> On November 6, 2018, Ellison won the election for Attorney General by more than 100,000 votes.<ref name="Wiegel2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/live-updates/midterms/midterm-election-updates/keith-ellison-wins-attorney-general-race-in-minnesota/|title=Keith Ellison wins attorney general race in Minnesota|last1=Wiegel|first1=David|date=November 6, 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=November 7, 2018|language=en}}</ref> This made him the first African American elected to statewide office in Minnesota, as well as the first Muslim elected to a statewide office in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/keith-ellison-succeeds-in-minnesota-attorney-general-bid-amid-abuse-allegations|title=Keith Ellison succeeds in Minnesota attorney general bid amid abuse allegations|author=Naomi Lim|date=November 7, 2018|publisher=The Washington Examiner|access-date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>

==== Allegations of domestic abuse ====
During the campaign, misconduct allegations surfaced that influenced the election. ''[[Politico]]'' wrote that Ellison's election would depend on "what voters make of the misconduct allegations he's facing".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/27/keith-ellison-abuse-allegations-minnesota-ag-2018-943086|title=Keith Ellison reeling after abuse allegations|work=Politico|last=Choi|first=Matthew|date=October 27, 2018|access-date=October 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028214204/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/27/keith-ellison-abuse-allegations-minnesota-ag-2018-943086|archive-date=October 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2006, environmental activist Amy Alexander alleged she had been in a romantic relationship with Ellison while he was married and said he had pushed, shoved, and verbally abused her. Ellison denied the accusation and denied they had a romantic relationship. He alleged that Alexander had harassed him and threatened to "destroy" him. A judge granted Ellison's request for a restraining order against Alexander and refused a similar request by Alexander against Ellison.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rao|first1=Maya|last2=Smith|first2=Kelly|last3=Van Berkel|first3=Jesse|url=http://www.startribune.com/top-dflers-back-ellison-as-candidates-but-say-allegations-need-scrutiny/491049271/|title=Keith Ellison faces mounting pressure over domestic violence claim|work=[[Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=August 17, 2018|access-date=October 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Turkewitz |first1=Julie |last2=Stockman |first2=Farah |title=A Broken Relationship and Accusations of Emotional Abuse: The Case of Keith Ellison |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/us/keith-elllison-karen-monahan.html |work=The New York Times |date=August 30, 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, Ellison's ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan and her son accused him of attempting to drag her off a bed while shouting obscenities. He denied her allegations<ref name="allegations">{{cite news|last=Haag|first=Matthew|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/us/politics/keith-ellison-abuse-karen-monahan.html|title=Representative Keith Ellison Denies Domestic Abuse Allegations|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 13, 2018|access-date=September 23, 2018}}</ref> and said in an interview he did not know how to react because he did not wish to demonize her.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stockman|first=Farah|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/us/keith-ellison-abuse-allegations-metoo.html|title=Keith Ellison's Campaign Overshadowed by Ex-Girlfriend's Allegations|work=The New York Times|date=October 15, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref> A [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] investigation conducted by attorney Susan Ellingstad concluded that Monahan's accusation was unsubstantiated, as she rejected requests to provide the video she said proved her allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4952674/Keith-Ellison-Investigation-Report.pdf|title=Investigation Report Prepared for Ken Martin, Chair, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|last=Ellingstad|first=Susan E.|access-date=October 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Potter|first=Kyle|url=https://apnews.com/b83b844f551b4fd999c0013784abe51d/APNewsBreak:-Attorney:-Ellison-abuse-claim-unsubstantiated|title=Attorney: Ellison abuse claim unsubstantiated|work=Associated Press|date=October 2, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref> The report states that Monahan would not allow Ellingstad to view the footage privately.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Keith Ellison abuse claim unsubstantiated, attorney concludes|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/keith-ellison-abuse-claim-unsubstantiated-attorney-concludes-n915491|access-date=2021-04-27|website=NBC News|date=October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Unsealed Hennepin County Family Court divorce records revealed that Ellison had claimed that Kim Ellison had physically abused him.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Paul|first=Deanna|title=In unsealed divorce records, Rep. Keith Ellison says ex-wife abused him|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/17/unsealed-divorce-records-rep-keith-ellison-says-ex-wife-abused-him/ |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=2021-04-27|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

=== Tenure ===
{{further|State v. Chauvin}}

====George Floyd case====

On May 31, 2020, Ellison accepted Minnesota governor [[Tim Walz]]'s request that he take over as [[special prosecutor]] in the [[Trial of Derek Chauvin|Derek Chauvin case]].<ref name = "Walz_request">{{cite web|url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/05/31/attorney-general-keith-ellison-to-take-over-george-floyd-case/|title=Attorney General Keith Ellison to lead prosecution of George Floyd's death|date=May 31, 2020|publisher=[[WCCO-TV|CBS Minnesota]]|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> Three days later, Ellison's office charged [[Derek Chauvin]], the officer who knelt on Floyd's neck, with [[Murder (United States law)#Degrees|second-degree murder]], a more serious charge than Hennepin County attorney [[Michael O. Freeman|Mike Freeman]]'s original charges of [[third-degree murder]] and second-degree [[Manslaughter (United States law)|manslaughter]].<ref name = "newchargeABC">{{Cite web |last1=Torres |first1=Ella |last2=Mansell |first2=William |last3=Pereira |first3=Ivan |date=May 29, 2020 |title=Minnesota protest live updates: Derek Chauvin charged with murder in connection with George Floyd's death |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/dangerous-protests-erupt-overnight-george-floyds-death-minneapolis/story?id=70924047 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |access-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529023807/https://abcnews.go.com/US/dangerous-protests-erupt-overnight-george-floyds-death-minneapolis/story?id=70924047 |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "newchargeCNN">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/us/george-floyd-officers-charges/index.html|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=June 5, 2020 |date= June 3, 2020 |last1=Campbell | last2 = Sidner| last3 = Levenson |first1 = Josh | first2 = Sara | first3 = Eric |title = All four former officers involved in George Floyd's killing now face charges}}</ref> Ellison also charged the other three officers at the scene, whom Freeman's office had not originally charged, with [[Aiding and abetting#Criminal|aiding and abetting]] second-degree murder and manslaughter.<ref name = newchargeABC /><ref name = newchargeCNN /> Freeman and trial lawyers Steve Schleicher, [[Jerry W. Blackwell|Jerry Blackwell]] and Matthew Frank were among those who served on Ellison's prosecution team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?511112-1/minnesota-attorney-general-ellison-news-conference-chauvin-verdict |work=[[C-SPAN]] |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Minnesota Attorney General Ellison News Conference on Chauvin Verdict |access-date=November 10, 2021 }}</ref> Chauvin was convicted on all three counts on April 20, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fox11online.com/news/nation-world/minnesota-ag-comments-on-chauvin-verdict|title = Minnesota AG comments on Chauvin verdict|date = April 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://local21news.com/news/nation-world/minnesota-ag-comments-on-chauvin-verdict|title = Minnesota AG comments on Chauvin verdict|date = April 20, 2021}}</ref> Ellison's management of the prosecution won him praise from [[Progressivism in the United States|progressives]], and led to speculation that he would seek a higher office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/22/keith-ellison-derek-chauvin-484362|title=Progressives swoon over Ellison role in Chauvin trial|website=[[Politico]]|last1=Otterbein|first1=Holly|last2=Payne|first2=Daniel|date=April 22, 2021|accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first1=Chris|last1=Cillizza|title=Analysis: The Chauvin trial produced a new liberal icon|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/politics/keith-ellison-chauvin-trial/index.html|access-date=2021-04-27|website=CNN|date=April 26, 2021 }}</ref>

==Political positions==
===Economy===

Ellison supports the [[Reward Work Act of 2018]] to reform [[US labor law]] and [[US corporate law|corporate law]] by guaranteeing the right of employees in listed companies to elect one-third of the [[board of directors]].

===Abortion===

In 2009 and 2011 Ellison had a 100% rating from [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] indicating a [[pro-choice]] voting record.<ref name="Pro-Choice Voting Record">{{cite web|title=NARAL 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ON CHOICE MINNESOTA|url=http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/us-government/congressional-record-on-choice/2011/state-page.html?state=MN|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504232441/http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/us-government/congressional-record-on-choice/2011/state-page.html?state=MN|archive-date=May 4, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Pro-choice">{{cite web|title=MINNESOTA DISTRICT 05 Rep. Keith Ellison (D) is pro-choice.|url=http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/pro-choice-voter-guide/race/mn-05.html|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723063001/http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/pro-choice-voter-guide/race/mn-05.html|archive-date=July 23, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===LGBTQ+ rights===

In a November 12, 2010, interview with the [[BBC]]'s program ''Outlook'', Ellison was asked to describe his constituents. He answered, "The district I represent is the kind of district where you can have a Member of Congress stand up for religious tolerance and against religious bigotry, against anyone, but also stand up for the rights of gays, too."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2010/11/101112_outlook_keith.shtml |title=BBC World Service – Programmes – America's first Muslim Congressman |publisher=BBC |date=November 12, 2010 |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> In Congress he served as vice-chair of the Congressional Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus. In 2025, he joined other state attorneys general in a lawsuit against [[Executive Order 14187]], which banned federal funding for gender-affirming care for minors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zurek |first1=Erica |title=Minnesota joins lawsuit against Trump's move to restrict gender-affirming care |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/02/07/minnesota-joins-lawsuit-against-trumps-move-to-restrict-gender-affirming-care |access-date=10 February 2025 |work=Minnesota Public Radio |date=February 7, 2025}}</ref>

===Gun rights===

During a March 2014 appearance on ''[[Real Time with Bill Maher]]'', Ellison said he was "for gun control, but I don't think you have got to eliminate ownership of all guns in order to get some common-sense gun rules." Host [[Bill Maher]] asked him, "Then why doesn't your party come out against the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]]?" Guest [[Sheila Bair]] then interjected, "Fifty-one votes, that's all it takes." Ellison responded, "I sure wish they would. I sure wish they would." Ellison's campaign said he was responding to Bair, not to Maher. Bair said she was referring to President [[Barack Obama]]'s nomination of [[Vivek Murthy]] for U.S. Surgeon General. Murthy supports stronger gun regulations.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Michelle|last=Ye Hee Lee|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2017/02/24/keith-ellisons-comments-on-the-second-amendment-for-the-record/?noredirect=on|title=Keith Ellison's comments on the Second Amendment: For the record|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date=February 24, 2017|access-date=February 24, 2017}}</ref>

===Iraq War===

After President [[George W. Bush]] vetoed HR 1591 that provided military funding for the [[Iraq War]] because it contained timetables for withdrawal, Ellison and fellow Minnesota Rep. [[Betty McCollum]], joined House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] and other top House Democrats in voting "no" to HR 2206 that provided the funding without any timetables. The bill passed the House on a 280 to 142 margin.<ref>{{cite news|first=Brian|last=Voerding|url=http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/05/25/news/04walz25.txt|title=Walz breaks rank, supports war funds|newspaper=[[Winona Daily News]]|publisher=[[Lee Enterprises]]|location=Winona, Minnesota|date=May 25, 2007|access-date=May 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928134054/http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2007/05/25/news/04walz25.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ellison joined fellow Minnesota freshman Democrat [[Tim Walz]] in opposing Bush's plan to increase troop levels in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Diaz|url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2007/01/05/washpol|title=Minnesota delegation cool to use of more troops in Iraq|newspaper=[[89.3 The Current|The Current]]|publisher=[[The Current Newspapers]]|location=Washington DC|date=January 5, 2007|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=August 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051152/https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2007/01/05/washpol|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On January 10, 2007, Bush announced his plans for the [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007]]. The gist of this announcement had been known around the Capitol for over a week, and when the [[Associated Press]] asked Ellison for his reaction to the idea on January 8, 2007, he said that it was "way too late, way too little. ... So rather than do something small and ineffective, why not get about the business of what we're going to have to do eventually, which is to begin to end the occupation?" Ellison called for an immediate withdrawal in Iraq: "We could describe it as a redeployment or withdrawal, but I think we have run the course in terms of our ability to resolve this conflict militarily. I think we need to have a political and economic and diplomatic engagement, and we need to encourage the forces that are in Iraq to begin to resolve the violence in Iraq." When asked if he would support Bush's call for an additional $100 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ellison said, "I want to see [the request] first, I want to actually look at it, but I'm not inclined to continue to support a war or an occupation that he has no plans to get us out of, and which is so costly in terms of dollars and lives of American soldiers but also Iraqis." When asked for a reaction to the comments, the [[White House]] referred to a previous statement by press secretary [[Tony Snow]]: "Democrats will have to decide where they stand on two issues: 'No. 1, do you want Iraq to succeed, and, if so, what does that mean? And, No. 2, do you believe in supporting the troops as you say, and how do you express that support?'"<ref name="Iraq jan8">{{cite news|first=Frederic J.|last=Frommer|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011000458.html|title=Rep. Ellison Wants Forces Out of Iraq|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date= January 10, 2007 <!-- ; 7:50 AM --> |access-date=January 13, 2007}}</ref>

===Freedom of speech===
In 2019, the city of Bloomington passed an ordinance that forbade filming students of [[Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center]] in a public park, which led to a successful lawsuit against the city in the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]] to reinstate the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights of the parties involved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/12/11/fight-over-filming-kids-outside-bloomington-mosque-heads-to-court|title=Fight over filming kids outside mosque heads to court|website=MPR News|date=December 11, 2019 }}</ref> Ellison had asked the court to drop the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lawandcrime.com/first-amendment/federal-court-strikes-down-local-law-in-minnesota-that-forbade-a-woman-from-photographing-kids-near-mosque-and-park/|title=Federal Court Strikes Down Local Law in Minnesota That Forbade a Woman from Photographing Kids Near Mosque and Park|date=September 3, 2021}}</ref>

===Iran===

Ellison has supported normalizing [[Iran-United States relations]] and reopening an interest section or embassy in Tehran; he was one of only five Democrats in Congress who voted against the 2015 [[Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act]]. In a speech to the [[National Iranian American Council]], he said it does not make sense to cut off contact with the Iranian government, because "when we put up an embassy or an interest section in another country, it's not a gift to them ... You're not doing something for the other country by having someone to look after our interests there, and by withdrawing it, it's not a punishment."<ref name="RosenCheerleader">{{cite news |first1= Amir |last1=Rosen |title= Keith Ellison's Life as NIAC Cheerleader |url= http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/219330/keith-ellisons-life-as-niac-cheerleader |magazine=[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]] |publisher=[[Nextbook]] |location= New York City |date= December 6, 2016 |access-date= August 18, 2018}}</ref>

===Bush administration===

On June 28, 2007, Ellison cosponsored Representative [[Dennis Kucinich]]'s [[US House Resolution 333|bill to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney]] for "high crimes and misdemeanors." Ellison's spokesperson, Rick Jauert, said the effort was "largely to send a message" and that Ellison "has no illusions that this is going anywhere and that's fine. We've got more important things to do that affect people's daily lives. He basically signed on out of principle, as an expression of the importance of the rule of law—that nobody is above the law, not even the vice president."<ref>{{cite news|title=Ellison signs as cosponsor of bill to impeach Cheney |agency=Associated Press |date=June 29, 2007 |url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1276950.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070702002330/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1276950.html |archive-date=July 2, 2007}}</ref>

On July 8, 2007, Ellison gave a speech in [[Edina, Minnesota]], denouncing Bush's commutation of [[Lewis Libby]]'s sentence: "If Libby gets pardoned, then he should not have the cover of the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]]. He's going to have to come clean and tell the truth. Now, he could get Gonzales-itis [referring to U.S. Attorney General [[Alberto Gonzales]]], you know, [[Alberto Gonzales#Dismissal of U.S. attorneys|with 71 lapses of memory within a two-hour period]]." He also criticized Bush's [[White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives]], saying, "This is basically the Department of Religious Outreach. ... It's essentially a public-relations outreach arm for the Bush administration to reach out to the far right of the [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christian]] movement. That's really all it is."<ref name="Southdale">{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Kaszuba|title=Atheists applaud Ellison's views on Cheney, Libby, 9/11|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|publisher=[[Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19668590/}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On July 25, 2007, Ellison voted in the House Judiciary Committee to issue citations of [[Contempt of Congress|contempt of congress]] to [[White House Chief of Staff]] [[Joshua Bolten]] and former [[White House Counsel]] [[Harriet Miers]] for "failure to comply with subpoenas on [[2006 dismissal of U.S. attorneys|the firings of several federal prosecutors]]".<ref name="contempt">{{cite news|title=Ellison votes with majority on contempt citations against White House aides|date=July 25, 2007|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/07/25/contemptellison/|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

===Trump administration===
In 2017, Ellison said he was open to demands to start an [[Federal impeachment in the United States|impeachment process]] against President [[Donald Trump]]: "Donald Trump has already done a number of things which legitimately raise the question of impeachment."<ref>{{cite news|title=Keith Ellison supportive of impeachment against Trump|date=February 23, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYGCZtZMKCc/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/BYGCZtZMKCc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|agency=[[CNN]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> By the December 2019 [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|impeachment of Donald Trump]], Ellison was no longer serving in the House of Representatives.

===Human rights===

Ellison issued a statement on March 21, 2008, that criticized the Chinese government for its [[Tibet]] policy and for its relationship with Sudan's leaders "as they commit genocide on the citizens of Darfur."<ref>{{cite news|first=Jay|last=Wiener|url=http://www.minnpost.com/jayweiner/2008/03/24/1244/ellison_becomes_first_minnesota_official_to_link_summer_olympics_and_china_policies|title=Ellison becomes first Minnesota official to link Summer Olympics and China policies|newspaper=[[MinnPost]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=March 24, 2008|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214023559/http://www.minnpost.com/jayweiner/2008/03/24/1244/ellison_becomes_first_minnesota_official_to_link_summer_olympics_and_china_policies|archive-date=February 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ellison was arrested along with seven other people including U.S. Representatives [[James P. "Jim" McGovern|James McGovern]], John Lewis, [[Donna Edwards]], and [[Lynn Woolsey]] for [[civil disobedience]] in April 2009 when they spoke at the [[Sudan]]ese Embassy in [[Washington, D.C.]], to protest that the president of Sudan, [[Omar al-Bashir]], had asked international aid groups bringing food, health care and water, to leave [[Darfur]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rhee|first=Foon|title=McGovern, other lawmakers arrested at Darfur protest|url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/04/mcgovern_other.html|newspaper=[[Boston Globe]]|publisher=[[Boston Globe Media Partners LLC]]|location=Boston, Massachusetts|date=April 26, 2009|access-date=April 26, 2009}}</ref>

===Basic income===

On August 17, 2017, Ellison said he supported [[guaranteed basic income]].<ref name="Basic-Income-Twitter">{{cite web|title=Member of Congress from Minnesota Keith Ellison endorses Basic Income|url=http://basicincome.org/news/2017/08/united-states-member-congress-minnesota-keith-ellison-endorses-basic-income/|website=Basic Income News|date=August 26, 2017|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref>

===2016 U.S. presidential election endorsements===

Ellison was the second U.S. Representative (after [[Raúl Grijalva]]) to [[List of Bernie Sanders presidential campaign endorsements, 2016|endorse]] [[Bernie Sanders]] [[Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016|for president]] in the 2016 [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2016|Democratic primary]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Alex|last=Seitz-Wald|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/keith-ellison-hands-bernie-sanders-his-second-congressional-endorsment|title=Keith Ellison hands Bernie Sanders his second congressional endorsement |publisher=MSNBC |date=October 12, 2015}}</ref> He endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] after she secured the party's nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2016/07/rep-keith-ellison-endorses-hillary-clinton|title=Rep. Keith Ellison endorses Hillary Clinton|date=July 2016|website=MinnPost.com|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref>

=== 2020 U.S. presidential election endorsements ===
On June 28, 2019, Ellison endorsed [[Bernie Sanders]] for president, citing [[Medicare for All]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Keith Ellison endorses Bernie Sanders for president — again|url=https://www.startribune.com/keith-ellison-endorses-bernie-sanders-for-president-again/511959892/ |first=Patrick |last=Condon |date=June 28, 2019 |access-date=2021-04-27|website=Star Tribune}}</ref> He endorsed [[Joe Biden]] after Biden won the Democratic nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-20|title=Ilhan Omar, Keith Ellison Among Muslim American Officials To Endorse Joe Biden|url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/07/20/ilhan-omar-keith-ellison-among-muslim-american-officials-to-endorse-joe-biden/|access-date=2021-04-27|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Travels abroad==
===Middle East===

In late March and early April 2007, Ellison was a member of a congressional delegation on a "fact-finding trip to the Middle East".<ref name="1st Israel">{{cite news|title=House Speaker Pelosi, Ellison, Tour Jerusalem|date=March 31, 2007|agency=Associated Press|url=http://wcco.com/politics/Keith.Ellison.5th.2.366303.html}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The group included Representatives [[Henry Waxman]], [[Tom Lantos]], [[Louise Slaughter]], [[Nick Rahall]], [[Dave Hobson]], who were led by Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]]. The delegation visited the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] and the [[Western Wall]]. Ellison called his visit to Islam's third-holiest site, the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]], as "personally moving".<ref name="1st Israel trip">{{cite news|title=Ellison, Pelosi Meet with Israeli Officials|date=April 1, 2007|agency=Associated Press|url=http://wcco.com/politics/Keith.Ellison.5th.2.366286.html}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="ABC mideast">{{cite news|title=Rep.: Israel Said No Syria Attack Plan |agency=Associated Press|date=April 8, 2007 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3019285|author=Frederic Frommer}}</ref> The group met with Israeli prime minister [[Ehud Olmert]] and discussed the peace plan devised by the Saudis in 2002.<ref name="1st Israel trip" /> The delegation also met with [[Palestinian Authority]] President [[Mahmoud Abbas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.twincities.com/2007/03/31/minnesota-delegation-tours-holy-sites/|title=Minnesota / Delegation tours holy sites|newspaper=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]|publisher=[[MediaNews Group]]|location=St. Paul, Minnesota|date=March 31, 2007|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref>

The group's visit to [[Syria]] was criticized by the Bush administration, which restated its view that the United States should not have diplomatic relations with state sponsors of terrorism. While there the delegation conveyed a message from Olmert to Syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad]] that "Israel is interested in peace if Damascus stops supporting terrorism".<ref name="1st Israel trip" /> In [[Lebanon]] the group met with Prime Minister [[Fouad Siniora]] and Speaker [[Nabih Berri]]. They also visited the grave of [[Rafik Hariri]] and met with his son [[Saad Hariri]].<ref name="Pelosi release">{{cite web|url=http://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0135|title=Congressional Delegation Statement on Middle East Trip|date=April 5, 2007|access-date=October 25, 2007|archive-date=October 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011172147/http://speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0135|url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[Saudi Arabia]] the group spoke to [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] and his [[Shura Council]] of advisers.<ref name="Saudi trip">{{cite news|title=Pelosi raises issue of female politicians in Saudi Arabia|agency=Associated Press|date=April 5, 2001|url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1102239.html|access-date=October 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114165444/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1102239.html|archive-date=November 14, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> They praised his peace plan and advocated a greater role for women in his nation's political process. Ellison's inclusion in the delegation was praised by council member Abdul-Rahman al-Zamel.<ref name="Pelosi release" /><ref name="Saudi trip" /> Ellison called the king a "visionary leader" and said, "Even being in the same country where [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]] are located was personally uplifting for me."<ref name="ABC mideast" /> Ellison also said he hoped his presence as a Muslim among the delegation conveyed a message to the Israelis and Palestinians that "people can come together. Reconciliation is possible."<ref name="1st Israel" />

====Iraq====

On July 28 and 29, 2007, Ellison was among an "all-freshman bipartisan congressional delegation" visiting Iraq, arranged by Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] and led by Rep. [[Jerry McNerney]]. Before the trip Ellison told reporters that he would be stopping over in Germany to visit wounded U.S. soldiers being treated there.<ref name="Iraq trip July 07">{{cite news|title=Ellison is part of Iraq trip arranged by Defense chief|author=Jake Sherman|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=July 29, 2007|url=http://www.startribune.com/587/v-print/story/1331665.html|access-date=August 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821064627/http://www.startribune.com/587/v-print/story/1331665.html|archive-date=August 21, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="McNerney">{{cite news|title=Ellison returns from trip to Iraq|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-30-ellison-iraq_N.htm|date=July 30, 2007|work=USA Today}}</ref> He also said that he respected any politician who visited Iraq, making note of Republican Minnesota governor [[Tim Pawlenty]], who went in February 2007, along with five other governors.<ref name="Iraq trip July 07" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Pawlenty makes surprise trip to Iraq|date=February 10, 2004|url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/02/10_mccalluml_pawlentyiraq/|publisher=MPR}}</ref> Ellison said, "If this country is going to ask these young people to stand in a war zone, their political leadership should visit them."<ref name="Iraq trip July 07" /> In Iraq the delegation met with Iraqi and U.S. military officials, including Gen. [[David Petraeus]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Dan|last=Olsen|url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2007/07/30/ellisoniraq|title=Congress' only Muslim hears from sheiks on trip to Iraq|newspaper=[[The Current (newspaper)|The Current]]|publisher=[[Current Newspapers]]|location=Washington DC|date=July 30, 2007|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924112603/https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2007/07/30/ellisoniraq|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Israel and Palestine====

Soon after he returned from Iraq, Ellison and 19 other representatives took a week-long trip to Israel sponsored by the [[American Israel Education Foundation]]. House Majority Leader [[Steny Hoyer]] led the group and personally invited Ellison to join them for a stay from August 12–18, 2007. The group met with Israeli prime minister [[Ehud Olmert]] and Palestinian president [[Mahmoud Abbas]]. Ellison's spokesperson told reporters that the trip was "a natural extension of his visit to Iraq" and that "the Middle East peace issue is important to the diverse communities of his Minneapolis-area district—from the [[Jewish Community Relations Council]] to the patrons of the Holy Land Middle Eastern eatery on [[Lake Street (Minneapolis)|Lake Street]] and Central Avenue. He hears about it every time he goes back to his district." The group traveled to [[Jerusalem]], [[Tel Aviv]], the northern [[Galilee]] region, and [[Ramallah]], and viewed the [[Israel-Lebanon border|Israeli border with Lebanon]].<ref name="2nd Israel">{{cite news|title=Ellison to take weeklong trip to Israel|first1=Kevin|last1=Diaz|first2=Jake|last2=Sherman|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=August 1, 2007|url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1338153.html|access-date=October 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114145548/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1338153.html|archive-date=November 14, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During this trip Ellison said that Israel did not permit him to travel to [[Gaza City|Gaza]], where a conflict was occurring. In a 2009 interview with reporter Shihab Rattansi, Ellison expressed his disappointment at his inability to see [[2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict#Humanitarian crisis|the humanitarian situation]] for himself and called for a more open discussion on Gaza, saying: "The people who have a strong sympathy for the Israeli position ... dominate the conversation. And it's really not politically safe to say, look, there are two sides to this, and Israel has not been an angel in this, and certainly there have been people on the Palestinian side who have not contributed to a constructive solution."<ref name="Rattansi">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWb2rnOJBOA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/HWb2rnOJBOA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=US congressman Keith Ellison on Gaza|work=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|date=January 6, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
[[File:Rep. Keith Ellison Holds Up a Rocket in Sderot, Israel.png|thumb|Ellison holds up a [[Qassam rocket]] fired at [[Sderot]]<ref name="Gaza And Sderot Movie">{{cite web|last=Ellison|first=Keith|title=Gaza And Sderot Movie|url=http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=247:gaza-and-sderot-movie&catid=17:video&Itemid=185|access-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref>]]

During the summer 2014 conflict between Hamas and Israel, Ellison published an editorial in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' that called for an end to the blockade in Gaza. Citing his three trips to Gaza since 2009, Ellison suggested that empowering Gazans by ending the blockade would weaken extremists and help move towards final status peace.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ellison|first1=Keith|title=End the Gaza blockade to achieve peace|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keith-ellison-end-the-gaza-blockade-to-achieve-peace/2014/07/29/e5e707c4-16a1-11e4-85b6-c1451e622637_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 29, 2014}}</ref>

====Gaza and Sderot====

On February 19, 2009, Ellison and fellow Representative [[Brian Baird]] visited [[Gaza City|Gaza]] to view the destruction from the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Gaza War]] and to meet with international and local relief agencies, including the [[UNRWA|United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East]]. This visit, which Ellison and Baird say did not have the official sanction of the [[Obama administration]], was the first time any U.S. government official had entered [[Gaza City|Gaza]] in more than three years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/wa03_baird/morenews1/GazaTrip.shtml |title=Brian Views Destruction in Gaza – Calls for Immediate Relief and Change in Policy |publisher=House.gov |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223104735/http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/wa03_baird/morenews1/GazaTrip.shtml |archive-date=February 23, 2009}}</ref> Ellison said: “The stories about the children affected me the most. No parent, or anyone who cares for kids, can remain unmoved by what Brian and I saw here.“<ref name="Gaza Trip Press Release" />
The following day Ellison and Baird visited the [[Israel]]i towns of [[Sderot]] and [[Ashkelon]], which were the targets of numerous [[Qassam rocket]] attacks, repeatedly launched from within the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref name="Gaza Trip Press Release">{{cite web|title=Congressmen view destruction in Gaza, Call for immediate relief and change in policy|url=http://www.southsidepride.com/2009/03/articles/congressmen.html|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130014957/http://southsidepride.com/2009/03/articles/congressmen.html|archive-date=November 30, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Norway===

Ellison visited Norway in January 2008 because of Norway's prominent role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and because of the Norwegian-American heritage of many of his constituents. While there, Ellison met with former Norwegian prime minister [[Kjell Magne Bondevik]], then president of the [[Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights]]. The ''Star Tribune'' reported that the "trip underscores Ellison's desire to play a role in the international peace movement."<ref name="norway">{{cite web|last=Schonheyder|first=Caroline|title=Lessons From Peace Diplomacy Inspire Representative Keith Ellison On Visit To Norway|url=http://www.norway.org/ARCHIVE/policy/news/keithellisoninnorway/|publisher=Embassy of Norway}}</ref><ref name="StribNorway">{{cite web|first=Kevin|last=Diaz|title=Ellison going to Norway to study peace and justice|url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/12840961.html?refer=y|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=December 27, 2007|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref>

===Africa===

In mid-2008, Ellison joined a U.S. House Democracy Assistance Commission delegation that traveled to six African countries, including [[Liberia]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Malawi]], [[Mauritania]] and [[Kenya]]. Upon returning, Ellison said: "The people of the 5th congressional district [his own] know that, in this globalized world, to have peace and security relies on other people having a modicum of peace and security." He attended a July 4 reception at the [[U.S. Ambassador to Kenya|U.S. ambassador]]'s residence in Nairobi, Kenya, where Ellison met [[Sarah Onyango Obama|Sarah Hussein Onyango Obama]], the step-grandmother of then-presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="StribAfrica">{{cite web|first=Kevin |last=Diaz |title=Ellison upbeat after visit to Africa |url=http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=24284064 |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]] |publisher=Star Tribune Media Partners LLC|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=July 9, 2008|access-date=July 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726183256/http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=24284064|archive-date=July 26, 2012 }}</ref>

==Advocacy for American Muslims==

With his victory to the [[United States House of Representatives]] Ellison became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress and the highest Muslim elected official in the United States, with Congressman [[André Carson]] elected in 2008, as the only other Muslim serving in the U.S. Congress.<ref name="Andre_Carson">{{cite news |last=Guttman |first=Nathan |title=The 'Other Muslim' in Congress|url=https://forward.com/articles/136248/the-other-muslim-in-congress/|work=[[The Forward]] |date=March 16, 2011 }}</ref> Ellison's election has been seen as inspirational to American Muslims, and he encourages civic empowerment through participation in the political process.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 10, 2006 |url=http://kcbs.com/pages/145612.php?contentType=4&contentId=255950| title=Local Muslims Aim for Greater Political Involvement}}</ref><ref name="More Muslims">{{cite news|title=More Muslims Gaining Political Ground | author=Michelle Boorstein | newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 30, 2006| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112901576.html |access-date=December 10, 2006 }}</ref> Ellison generally "downplayed the role of religion in his drive for office",<ref>{{cite news|title=Oath on Qur'an: Activism or an act of faith?| author=Rob Hotakainen|newspaper=Star Tribune|date=November 30, 2006}}</ref> but he has become active in advocacy for Muslim American civic engagement and civil rights causes on a national level since.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imamsofamerica.com/NAIF2006.pdf |title=North American Imams Federation conference booklet |publisher=Imamsofamerica.com |access-date=May 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713013620/http://www.imamsofamerica.com/NAIF2006.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imamsofamerica.com/ |title=North American Imams Federation Web site |publisher=Imamsofamerica.com |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Francie Grace |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/6-muslim-imams-removed-from-plane/ |title=6 Muslim Imams Removed From Plane |work=CBS News |date=November 21, 2006 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=February 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209065748/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/21/national/main2202120.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/833707.html |title=Ellison seeks meeting on removal of clerics |website=[[Star Tribune]] |date=November 24, 2006 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061130064604/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/833707.html |archive-date = November 30, 2006}}</ref>

===North American Imams Federation===

On November 18, 2006, Ellison gave a speech called "Imams and Politics" to the Fourth Annual Body Meeting of the [[North American Imams Federation]]. The Federation's materials presented the issues to be outlined in Ellison's speech as follows: "Many Muslims around the United States are involved in political activities at different levels. Recognizing the sensitivity of political issues and the potential for divisiveness within the communities as a result of divergent political views, [[Imam]]s must be able to provide Muslims with the proper guidance and educate them on the etiquettes of any political involvement within the Islamic context. Questions also arise on whether Imams and Islamic centers should be involved in politics at all and what the extent of this involvement should be, therefore Imams should have the ability to address these concerns. Overall, it is important that Imams are aware and understand the general political climate of their communities and be especially conversant with the issues that affect Muslims." Ellison also took part in "Community Night" with Imam [[Siraj Wahhaj]], and Imam Dr. [[Omar Shahin]]. This was "for Imams to meet and interact with community members."<ref name="NAIF 2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.imamsofamerica.com/NAIF2006.pdf|title=North American Imams' Federation conference booklet|publisher=North American Imams Federation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713013620/http://www.imamsofamerica.com/NAIF2006.pdf|archive-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref> Some of the participants of this meeting became involved in the [[Flying Imams controversy]] after being removed from an Arizona bound plane for "concerning behavior".<ref>{{cite news| title=6 Muslim Imams Removed From Plane| publisher=Star and Tribune| date=November 21, 2006| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/6-muslim-imams-removed-from-plane/| access-date=December 11, 2006| archive-date=February 9, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209065748/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/21/national/main2202120.shtml| url-status=live}}</ref> Ellison became involved in this controversy shortly after it erupted when he attempted to arrange a meeting between parties including [[US Airways]] executives, the [[Metropolitan Airports Commission]], and other legislators and community members.<ref>{{cite news| title=Ellison seeks meeting on removal of clerics| author=Rochelle Olson| newspaper= Star Tribune|date=November 24, 2006 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(%22Ellison%20seeks%20meeting%20on%20removal%20of%20clerics%22)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22Ellison%20seeks%20meeting%20on%20removal%20of%20clerics%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no}}</ref>

===MOSES interfaith group===

On December 27, 2006, Ellison spoke at a meeting in Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in [[Detroit]] for [[Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength]] (MOSES). The meeting was with leaders from the [[Catholic]], Muslim, and [[Arab-American]] communities, along with members of the organized labor movement. He told those in attendance that the principles of Islam guide his life, but he has no intention of imposing his faith on others, "I'm not a religious leader, I've never led religious services of any kind. I'm not here to be a preacher, but in terms of political agenda items, my faith informs me."<ref name="Warikoo">{{cite news|date=December 27, 2006|title=Ellison says faith won't be exploited|author=Niraj Warikoo|work=Detroit Free Press|url=http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/nation/16330890.htm|access-date=December 28, 2006}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He addressed the Qur'an Oath controversy of the 110th United States Congress and said that he hoped religion could be a uniting, rather than a dividing force: "They've never actually tried to explore how religion should connect us, they're into how religion divides us. ... They haven't really explored ... how my faith connects me to you."<ref name="Warikoo" />

==Promoting U.S. with the State Department==

[[File:MN Disabled Veterans with Keith-2010.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Man in his forties wearing a dark suit, white shirt, striped tie and gray vest. He has a small beard or goatee and is standing with six men, all wearing suits and two wearing small hats from the National Guard and the letters "D. A. V."|Ellison with Minnesota Disabled Veterans]]
Two months after taking office, Ellison met with Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] and other top State Department officials to talk about "showcasing his story as part of their public diplomacy efforts in the Muslim world." According to the ''[[Star Tribune]]'', Ellison was "profiled three times by the State Department's overseas press bureau." He also "did a [[Voice of America]] interview from his office, where an American flag was placed conspicuously behind his desk for the cameras." In the interview which was set to play in the Middle East and South Asia, Ellison stressed global inclusiveness and quoted verse 49:13 of the Qur'an "Oh humanity, We created you from a single pair". Ellison also accepted the Bush administration's request to be part of a "teleconference with [[Karen Hughes]], the State Department's undersecretary for public diplomacy. The White House has asked that the teleconference promote American values and confront ideological support for terrorism around the world." The Voice of America applauded Ellison's cooperation saying "He is the most famous freshman congressman in the world."<ref name="Rice">{{cite news|title=Ellison taking on role in U.S. image building |author=Kevin Diaz |publisher=McClatchy News Service |url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1036906.html |date=March 7, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313175807/http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1036906.html |archive-date=March 13, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After he took his oath of office he was surrounded by the foreign press, intrigued in part by the oath controversy, who "had to be ushered out of his office after he took his oath to make room for home-state news crews." Ellison has been "featured in a series of articles written for foreign dissemination by the Department's Bureau of International Information Programs." Including an article that was translated into Persian and Arabic that "highlighted the diversity of his constituents in Minnesota, ranging from Swedes and Norwegians to 'the largest Somali immigrant community in America.'" In his work in cooperation with the state department, Ellison stresses the religious freedom available in the U.S., saying things like "religious tolerance has a much longer pedigree in America than some of the intolerance we've seen lately." Even in his work with the State Department he remained critical of President Bush's Iraq policy saying "he wants people around the world to know that 'there are many Americans who want to relate to the rest of the world in terms of cooperation, not military domination.'" Ellison staffers told reporters that "the State Department has shown no signs of squeamishness about publicizing his criticism of the war." When asked about working with elements of the Bush administration Ellison said "Hey, my country first. We can work out our political differences later. I've said I'm willing to do whatever I can to make some friends for America."<ref name="Rice" />

==Public profile==
===Interview with Glenn Beck===

On November 14, 2006, [[Glenn Beck]] of [[CNN Headline News]] said to Ellison, "I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' And I know you're not. I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."<ref name="Beck 06">{{cite news| url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/14/gb.01.html| author=Glenn Beck| title=First Muslim Congressman Speaks Out|date=November 14, 2006 |access-date=December 11, 2006 | publisher=CNN}}</ref> Ellison replied that his constituents, "know that I have a deep love and affection for my country. There's no one who's more patriotic than I am, and so you know, I don't need to — need to prove my patriotic stripes."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Beck|first1=Glenn|title=An Inconvenient Book|date=2007|publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]]|isbn=9781416580041|page=146|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vTUouErmu0YC&q=I+don%27t+need+to+%E2%80%94+need+to+prove+my+patriotic+stripes|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>

When asked by Beck for his opinion on Muslim extremists, Ellison replied, "They're criminals. But I think that people who commit criminal acts should be treated like criminals, regardless of their faith."<ref name="Beck 06" /> He also said, "[[Osama bin Laden]] no more represents [[Islam]] than [[Timothy McVeigh]] represented [[Christianity]]."<ref>{{cite news | title =Keith Ellison first Muslim congressman | agency =Associated Press |date=November 11, 2006 | publisher =Spokesman Review | url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/features/story.asp?ID=159034 |access-date=November 16, 2006}}</ref> Asked about the incident later, Ellison dismissed it, saying, "It's just shock TV. Some pundits think they have to ask the most outrageous questions."<ref>{{cite news|first=Brady |last=Averill |title=For freshmen on Capitol Hill, it's the luck of the draw |date=November 17, 2006 |newspaper=Star Tribune |url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/819861.html |access-date=November 19, 2006}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On January 2, 2007, Beck said on his [[Glenn Beck Program|radio program]] that Ellison did not take offense at the comments and the two had a friendly chat off the air. On January 9, 2007, at the Television Critics Association's semiannual press tour, Beck said it was "Quite possibly the poorest-worded question of all time." He clarified by saying, "My point to Keith Ellison ... is the same point that I make to my own faith, and that is—you must stand up before things get out of control ... And it's important for people of all faiths, when someone is hijacking their religion, to stand and say, 'That is not what we do. That is not who we are."'<ref>{{cite news|title=Beck is in a Catch-22|first=Scott D.|last=Pierce|date=January 11, 2007|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650221878/Scott-Pierce-Beck-is-in-a-Catch-22.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121204304/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650221878/Scott-Pierce-Beck-is-in-a-Catch-22.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2013|work=Deseret News}}</ref>

===Nation of Islam affiliation===

As a law student in 1989 and 1990 Ellison wrote several columns under the name "Keith E. Hakim" in the student newspaper, the ''[[Minnesota Daily]]''. He defended [[Louis Farrakhan]] against claims of racism,<ref>{{cite news|first1=Andrew|last1=Kaczynski|title=Rep. Keith Ellison faces renewed scrutiny over past ties to Nation of Islam, defense of anti-Semitic figures|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/01/politics/kfile-keith-ellison-nation-of-islam/index.html|date=December 1, 2016|access-date=December 2, 2016|work=CNN|quote=Ellison wrote other columns in law school defending Farrakhan against charges of racism ...}}</ref> and further wrote that Farrakhan "is also not an [[anti-Semite]]" and called [[affirmative action]] a "sneaky" form of compensation for [[slavery]], suggesting that white Americans instead pay [[Reparations for slavery|reparations]] to blacks.<ref name="BallabonEllison">{{cite magazine|last1=Jeff Ballabon|title=Keith Ellison Supported the BDS Movement and Admired Louis Farrakhan.|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/218385/keith-ellison-bds-farrakhan-dnc|access-date=November 22, 2016|magazine=[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]]|date=November 21, 2016|author1-link=Jeff Ballabon}}</ref><ref name="defensePost">{{cite news|first = Alan|last = Cooperman|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/10/AR2006091000951.html|title = Muslim Candidate Plays Defense|newspaper = The Washington Post|page = A03|date= September 11, 2006|access-date = September 11, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mndaily.com/archive/download.php?archives/1989/11271989.tif |title=Minnesota Daily archive |publisher=Mndaily.com |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515231040/http://www.mndaily.com/archive/download.php?archives%2F1989%2F11271989.tif |archive-date=May 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mndaily.com/archive/download.php?archives/1990/02021990.tif |title=Minnesota Daily archive |publisher=Mndaily.com |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613182445/http://www.mndaily.com/archive/download.php?archives%2F1990%2F02021990.tif |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]'' reported that, under the name "Keith X Ellison," he wrote defenses of Farrakhan against accusations of antisemitism after the 1995 [[Million Man March]], and again in 1997.<ref name="MotherJones">{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Murphy|title=Keith Ellison Is Everything Republicans Thought Obama Was. Maybe He's Just What Democrats Need|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/02/keith-ellison-democratic-national-committee-chair|access-date=February 8, 2017|newspaper=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|date=March–April 2017|quote=Under the byline Keith X Ellison, months after the march that he described as an epiphany, he penned an op-ed in the Twin Cities black weekly Insight News, pushing back against charges of anti-Semitism directed at Farrakhan. In 1997, nearly two years later, he endorsed a statement again defending Farrakhan.}}</ref> James Muhammad, a former leader of the Nation of Islam's Twin Cities study group, has said that Ellison served for several years as the group's "chief of protocol", in which capacity he acted as a liaison between Muhammad and local communities.<ref name="MotherJones" />

====Denunciation of the Nation of Islam in 2006====

During Ellison's 2006 campaign Republican blogger [[Michael Brodkorb]]<ref>{{cite web|first=Alan|last=Cooperman|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2006/09/11/muslim-candidate-plays-defense-span-classbankheadlead-shrinks-as-minnesota-democrat-repudiates-association-with-farrakhan-span/79546ad0-a175-48e9-b610-717846e0b99b/|title=Muslim Candidate Plays Defense Lead Shrinks as Minnesota Democrat Repudiates Association With Farrakhan |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington DC|date=September 11, 2006|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref> unearthed posts about Ellison's ''Minnesota Daily'' articles and his involvement with the [[Nation of Islam]]. In response Ellison wrote a letter to the [[Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas|Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota & the Dakotas]] stating he had never been a member, and that his connections with the Nation of Islam were limited to an 18-month period during which he helped organize the Minnesota contingent at the 1995 [[Million Man March]].<ref name="excuses2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/191/story/683044.html|title=The excuses keep on coming for Ellison's behavior|first = Katherine|last = Kersten|work = Star Tribune|date= September 17, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061004144643/http://www.startribune.com/191/story/683044.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = October 4, 2006}}</ref><ref name="defensePost" /><ref name="TWS2006">{{cite news|first = Scott W.|last=Johnson|url = http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/764obcsx.asp|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120919133205/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/764obcsx.asp|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 19, 2012|title = Louis Farrakhan's First Congressman|work = [[The Weekly Standard]]|publisher = News America Incorporated|date= October 9, 2006|access-date = November 13, 2006}}</ref> In 2016, CNN referred instead to Ellison's "decade-long involvement in the Nation of Islam".<ref>{{cite news|first1=Daniella|last1=Diaz|title=Keith Ellison defends comments about Middle East in open letter to ADL|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/01/politics/keith-ellison-anti-defamation-league-middle-east/|date=December 1, 2016|access-date=December 2, 2016|work=CNN|quote=CNN's KFile reviewed Ellison's past writings and public statements during the late 1980s through the 1990s, which revealed his decade-long involvement in the Nation of Islam.}}</ref> Ellison's letter denounced the Nation of Islam and Farrakhan: "I wrongly dismissed concerns that they [Farrakhan's remarks] were anti-Semitic. They were and are anti-Semitic and I should have come to that conclusion earlier than I did".<ref>{{cite news|first=Tim|last=Jones| title=Candidate finds past ties a real bind | newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |publisher=[[Tronc]]|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=June 30, 2006 | page=7|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/06/30/candidate-finds-past-ties-a-real-bind/}}</ref> He explained his previous views by saying that he "did not adequately scrutinize the positions and statements of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, and Khalid Muhammed." He also wrote, "any kind of discrimination and hate are wrong. This has always been my position". During the 2006 campaign many prominent Jewish DFL activists supported Ellison, including fundraisers [[Samuel L. Kaplan|Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan]] and State Representative [[Phyllis Kahn]], who said it was "inconceivable that he could have ever been an antisemite."<ref name="defensePost" />

===Campaign contributions from members of CAIR===

During the 2006 election [[Nihad Awad]], executive director of the [[Council on American–Islamic Relations]] (CAIR) and [[James Yee]], the former Muslim chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, spoke at an August 25 fundraiser for Ellison.<ref name="defensePost" /><ref>{{cite news|title=A Muslim for the Hill?|work=Newsweek| url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14786303/site/newsweek/| author=Lee Hudson Teslik |date=September 13, 2006 |access-date=January 3, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070104033247/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14786303/site/newsweek/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = January 4, 2007}}</ref> Awad and Ellison knew each other as they attended the University of Minnesota Law School at the same time.<ref name="Olson_11-19-06" /><ref name="Olson Oct.">{{cite news| title=Minnesotan campaigns to be the first Muslim elected to Congress| author=Rochelle Olson| publisher=McClatchy Newspapers| date=October 24, 2006| url=http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/nation/15839259.htm| access-date=January 3, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114123548/http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/nation/15839259.htm| archive-date=November 14, 2006| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to the ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'', Ellison accepted individual contributions from Nihad Awad and another leader of CAIR; Ellison responded that he had fully disclosed all contributions and said that he had "nothing to hide".<ref>{{cite news|title=GOP's attack on Ellison focuses on U.S. Muslim| publisher=Minneapolis Star and Tribune|date= September 17, 2006}}</ref> Ellison stressed that he was supported by individuals, and that the [[non-profit]] organization itself did not endorse his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news| title=Sparks fly at 5th District debate| author=Brandt Williams| publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=October 18, 2006| url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/10/17/debate/}}</ref> His Republican opponent in the race, Alan Fine, criticized Ellison for accepting these contributions, saying that CAIR was "a group that Democrats say has deep ties to terrorism".<ref name="FineAd2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/10120/story/724880.html |title=Lee posts photo with Sabo; Fine ad attacks Ellison |first=Olson |last=Rochelle |work=Star Tribune |date=October 11, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2006 |quote=At the same time, Republican Alan Fine on Thursday pressed on with attacks against Ellison, sending a mailing to 100,000 voters criticizing Ellison for accepting campaign contributions from leaders of the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR). |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023110829/http://www.startribune.com/10120/story/724880.html |archive-date=October 23, 2007}}</ref> In response to Ellison's opponents, CAIR leaders Parvez Ahmed and Nihad Awad wrote, "We are proud of our personal donations to Ellison's campaign" and derided any 'guilt by association' arguments.<ref name="CAIRLetter2006">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/562/story/754239.html |title=Parvez Ahmed and Nihad Awad: Reject the political Muslim-bashing smears |work=Star Tribune |date=October 20, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2006 |quote=There has been much sound and fury in certain circles about the American Muslim community's support for Keith Ellison and his campaign to represent Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District.}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Reichstag fire and 9/11===

On July 8, 2007, Ellison discussed the power of the executive branch in a speech before the organization Atheists for Human Rights. He said that [[Dick Cheney]] said it was "beneath his dignity in order for him to answer any questions from the citizens of the United States. That is the very definition of [[totalitarianism]], [[authoritarianism]] and [[dictatorship]]."<ref name="Reish">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557447/Bush-like-Hitler-says-first-Muslim-in-Congress.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557447/Bush-like-Hitler-says-first-Muslim-in-Congress.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Bush like Hitler, says first Muslim in Congress|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=July 14, 2007|first=Toby|last=Harnden}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He went on to say, "It's almost like the [[Reichstag fire]], kind of reminds me of that. After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the [[Communists]] for it and it put the leader of that country, [[Hitler]], in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted. The fact is that I'm not saying [[September 11 attacks|September 11]] was a U.S. plan or anything like that because, you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box — dismiss you."<ref name="Reish" />

[[Fox News]] picked up the story<ref>{{cite news|title=Wait Until You Hear Who's Comparing the Bush Administration to Nazi Germany|date=July 12, 2007|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/wait-until-you-hear-whos-comparing-the-bush-administration-to-nazi-germany|first=Brit|last=Hume|publisher=Fox News Channel}}</ref> and their commentator [[John Gibson (media host)|John Gibson]] categorized Ellison's comments as accusing President [[George W. Bush]] "of planning and executing the 9/11 attacks".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/what-i-think-about-rep-keith-ellison-comparing-bush-to-hitler|date=July 16, 2007|author=John Gibson|title=What I Think About Rep. Keith Ellison Comparing Bush to Hitler | publisher=Fox News Channel}}</ref> In Congress, Representatives [[Eric Cantor]] and [[Zach Wamp]] wrote House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] demanding she "swiftly and immediately" reprimand Ellison for his remarks.<ref name="remarks draw">{{cite news|title=Ellison's remarks draw fresh complaints|work=Star Tribune|url=http://www.startribune.com/587/story/1309051.html|date=July 17, 2007|first=Jake|last=Sherman}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The letter said, "Even if Ellison asserts that he was not implying that 9/11 was orchestrated by the administration, the comparison he draws between Hitler and the President of United States is disgraceful. These comments inflame hatred and division at a time when we should be promoting our unity and reconciliation."<ref name="remarks draw" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Reps. Cantor, Wamp blast Ellison for 9/11 comments|author=Jackie Kucinich|date=July 18, 2007|url=http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/reps.-cantor-wamp-blast-ellison-for-9/11-comments-2007-07-18.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906181847/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/reps.-cantor-wamp-blast-ellison-for-9/11-comments-2007-07-18.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2008|work=The Hill}}</ref> The [[Anti-Defamation League]] also said: "Whatever his views may be on the administration's response to 9/11 and the conduct of the [[war on terrorism]], likening it to [[Hitler's rise to power]] and [[Nazism]] is odious and demeans the victims of 9/11 and the brave American men and women engaged in the [[war on terror]]. Furthermore, it demonstrates a profound lack of understanding about the horrors that Hitler and his Nazi regime perpetrated."<ref name="remarks draw" />

When later questioned about his comments, Ellison told a reporter that Osama bin Laden, and not the Bush administration, was responsible for the attacks.<ref>{{cite news| last = Kersten| first = Katherine| title = Ellison's use of Reichstag fire goes overboard| work = Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)| date = July 12, 2007}}</ref> He added, "In the aftermath of a tragedy, space is opened up for governments to take action that they could not have achieved before that." He pointed to the [[Iraq War]] and provisions granting greater arrest and surveillance powers within the [[USA PATRIOT Act]] as examples.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ellison cites Reichstag burning in attacking Bush policies|date=July 13, 2007|url=http://www2.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/103009.html|access-date=July 18, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717183435/http://www2.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/103009.html|archive-date=July 17, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ellison also said:

<blockquote>In response to a question, I stated that the Bush Administration exploited post-9/11 fears to advance a policy agenda that has undermined our civil liberties. I stand by this statement. ... I want to be clear that the murderous Nazi regime is historically distinct and the horror of the [[Holocaust]] must be acknowledged as a unique event in human history. I did not intend any direct comparison between the totalitarian state of Nazi Germany and the current administration. I have taken consistent and strong stands against [[Holocaust denial]] throughout my life in public service.<ref name="remarks draw" /></blockquote>

===Sali remarks===

Representative [[Bill Sali]] of Idaho drew criticism for his comments in an August 8, 2007, interview with the conservative [[Christianity|Christian]]-based ''American Family News Network''. Sali, an outspoken [[Evangelical Christian]], denounced the [[US Senate|Senate]] leadership for allowing a [[Hindu]] to lead the opening prayer, claiming that the non-Christian invocation threatened to endanger America by removing "the protective hand of God."<ref name="onenewsnow">{{cite news|title=Idaho congressman disturbed by Hindu prayer in Senate, election of Muslim to House |url=http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/08/idaho_congressman_disturbed_by.php |author=Jim Brown |publisher=OneNewsNow.com |date=August 8, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822060601/http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/08/Idaho_congressman_disturbed_by.php |archive-date=August 22, 2007 }}</ref> Former Democratic Idaho congressman [[Richard H. Stallings|Richard Stallings]], among others, demanded that Sali either apologize or resign. In response, Sali sent Ellison an email saying he "meant no offense".<ref name="Sali">{{cite news|title=Lawmaker Apologizes for Muslim Remarks|date=August 18, 2007|first=Todd|last=Dvorak|agency=Associated Press|url=http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1224387|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210606/http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1224387|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> Ellison was in [[Iraq]] with a congressional delegation, but his spokesperson, Micah Clemens, said, "The congressman just doesn't respond to comments like that."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cair.com/press-center/cair-in-the-news/9807-id-rep-s-comments-on-muslim-congressman-stir-debate.html|title=CAIR in the News|first=IP|last=Admins|website=www.CAIR.com|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016070600/http://www.cair.com/press-center/cair-in-the-news/9807-id-rep-s-comments-on-muslim-congressman-stir-debate.html|archive-date=October 16, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> A ''[[New York Sun]]'' editorial wrote that claims that the founders did not anticipate Muslim legislators are incorrect.<ref name="NY Sun ed">{{cite news|url=https://www.nysun.com/article/editorials-binding-ellison | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105554/http://www.nysun.com/article/44639 | archive-date=2007-09-29 |title=Binding Ellison | type=Editorial |work=The New York Sun|date=December 6, 2006}}</ref> The specific subject was brought up in several state conventions to ratify the [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]]; William Lancaster opposed the prospect during [[North Carolina]]'s 1788 [[Hillsborough Convention]].<ref name="NY Sun ed" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/amendI_religions52.html|title=Amendment I (Religion): Debate in North Carolina Ratifying Convention|website=press-pubs.uchicago.edu}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Ellison has been married to Mónica Hurtado since December 1, 2018. Ellison and his former wife, Kim, a high school mathematics teacher,<ref name="CampBio">{{cite web |url=http://keithellison.org/about.htm |title=Official Bio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219191150/http://keithellison.org/about.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=September 24, 2009 |website=keithellison.org}}</ref> had four children between 1989 and 1997.<ref name="Making the choice">{{cite news|page=16|title=Making the choice |date=January 24, 2003| url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/swkly/2003-04/sw303.pdf |publisher=Session Weekly — Minnesota House of Representatives|access-date=December 14, 2006 }}</ref> Keith Ellison is a [[Muslim]], and although Kim Ellison is not, the Ellisons' four children were raised in the Muslim faith.<ref name="AMP0913">{{cite web |url=http://www.archives2007.ghazali.net/html/ellison_may_become.html |title=Ellison may become the first Muslim in US Congress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412061627/http://www.archives2007.ghazali.net/html/ellison_may_become.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 12, 2017 |date=September 13, 2006 |work=American Muslim Perspective Online Magazine |access-date=April 11, 2017 }}</ref> One of their sons, [[Jeremiah Ellison|Jeremiah]], was elected to the [[Minneapolis City Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/from-activist-to-authority-jeremiah-ellison-navigates-minneapolis-civil-rights-fight/557218002/|title=From activist to authority, Jeremiah Ellison navigates Minneapolis' civil rights fight|website=[[Star Tribune]]|date=August 21, 2019 }}</ref> During Ellison's 2006 campaign Kim Ellison revealed that she had been living with moderate [[multiple sclerosis]] for several years.<ref name="MSTJuly06">{{cite news|first1=Patricia|last1=Lopez|first2=Mike|last2=Kaszuba|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-148286613.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610183207/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-148286613.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 10, 2014|title=Late campaign reports were her doing, Ellison's wife says|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|publisher=[[Star Tribune Media Company, LLC]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=July 15, 2006|access-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> Keith Ellison filed for legal separation from Kim Ellison in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|title=Keith Ellison and wife, Kim, file for legal separation|url=http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/06/keith_ellison_f.php|access-date=June 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302221732/http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/06/keith_ellison_f.php|archive-date=March 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and their divorce was finalized on May 2, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Register of Actions Case No. 27-FA-11-7451: In the Marriage of Keith Maurice Ellison vs Kim Dore Ellison|url=http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/}}</ref> Kim Ellison was elected to the [[Minneapolis School Board]] in 2012 as vice-chair and in November 2016 as an at-large member.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/editorial-board-endorsement-our-picks-for-minneapolis-and-st-paul-school-boards/398567851/ |title=Editorial Board endorsement: Our picks for Minneapolis and St. Paul school boards |newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|publisher=[[Star Tribune Media Company, LLC]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|date=October 25, 2016|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Beena|last=Raghavendran|url=http://www.startribune.com/school-board-candidates-promise-change/400485061/|title=New Minneapolis school board members promise change|newspaper=[[Star Tribune]]|date=November 8, 2016|access-date=October 15, 2017}}</ref>

==Awards==

The [[American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee]] gave Ellison its Trailblazer Award.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Congressman Ellison to Receive ADC Trailblazer Award During ADC Convention |url=http://www.adc.org/congressman-ellison-to-receive-adc-trailblazer-award-during-adc-convention/ |location=Washington DC |publisher=[[American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee]] |date=May 18, 2007 |access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref> He was named an ''[[Utne Reader]]'' visionary in 2011.<ref name="visionary">{{cite web|title=Representative Keith Ellison: Muslim Patriot|url=https://www.utne.com/politics/utne-reader-visionaries-keith-ellison-muslim-patriot|magazine=[[Utne Reader]]|publisher=Ogden Publications|location=Topeka, Kansas|date=November–December 2011|access-date=October 19, 2011}}</ref>

==Memoirs==

Ellison's book ''My Country 'Tis of Thee'' was published in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/excerpt-keith-ellisons-new-book|title=An excerpt from Keith Ellison's "My Country 'Tis of Thee'|website=[[MSNBC]]|date=January 7, 2014|access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref> His personal account of the events surrounding the [[murder of George Floyd]] and [[trial of Derek Chauvin]] for that murder appear in his book ''Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence''.<ref name="Break">{{citation
| last = Ellison
| first = Keith
| author-link = Keith Ellison
| title = Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence
| publisher = Hachette Book Group 
| location = New York
| date = May 2023
| isbn = 978-1-5387-2563-4 
}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
===Minnesota House of Representatives===

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota House of Representatives – District 58B, 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20021105/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLREPS |title=2002 General Election Results – Minnesota Secretary of State |date=May 23, 2003 |access-date=December 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924220449/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20021105/ElecRslts.asp?M=LG&LD=A&R=ALLREPS |archive-date=September 24, 2006 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 5,714
  |percentage = 66.54
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Larissa Presho
  |votes      = 1,212
  |percentage = 14.11
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Duane K. Reed
  |votes      = 726
  |percentage = 8.45
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of the United States
  |candidate  = Bonnie J. Smith
  |votes      = 480
  |percentage = 5.59
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independence Party of Minnesota
  |candidate  = Jay Ceril Mastrud
  |votes      = 440
  |percentage = 5.12
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota House of Representatives – District 58B, 2004<ref>{{cite news| publisher= Minnesota Public Radio| url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/2004/campaign/results/data/html/ld/ld_58Bdata.html|title=Election results: Minnesota: State Legislative|year=2004 |access-date=December 16, 2006}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 10,796
  |percentage = 84.1
  |change     = +17.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Jay Ceril Mastrud
  |votes      = 1,988
  |percentage = 15.5
  |change     = +1.49}}
{{Election box end}}

===U.S. House of Representatives===

{{Election box begin|title=[[Minnesota's 5th congressional district election, 2006|Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2006]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 136,060
  |percentage = 55.56
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Alan Fine
  |votes      = 52,263
  |percentage = 21.34
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independence Party of Minnesota
  |candidate  = Tammy Lee
  |votes      = 51,456
  |percentage = 21.01
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of the United States
  |candidate  = Jay Pond
  |votes      = 4,792
  |percentage = 1.96
  |change     = –}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2008}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 228,753
  |percentage = 70.9
  |change     = +14.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Barb Davis White
  |votes      = 71,013
  |percentage = 22.0
  |change     = +.66}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independence Party of Minnesota
  |candidate  = Bill McGaughey
  |votes      = 22,315
  |percentage = 6.9
  |change     = −14.11}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2010}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 154,833
  |percentage = 67.7
  |change     = −3.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Joel Demos
  |votes      = 55,222
  |percentage = 24.1
  |change     = +2.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Lynn Torgerson
  |votes      = 8,548
  |percentage = 3.7
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independence Party of Minnesota
  |candidate  = Tom Schrunk
  |votes      = 7,446
  |percentage = 3.3
  |change     = −3.6}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/ENR/Results/CongressionalResults/1?id=560 |title=2012 General Election Results – Minnesota Secretary of State |date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106033336/http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/ENR/Results/CongressionalResults/1?id=560 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 262,101
  |percentage = 74.5
  |change     = +6.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Chris Fields
  |votes      = 88,753
  |percentage = 25.2
  |change     = +1.1}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2014<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ballotpedia.org/Minnesota's_5th_Congressional_District_elections,_2014#General_election_results|title= Ballotpedia: Minnesota's 5th Congressional District elections, 2014|access-date=October 12, 2014}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 167,079
  |percentage = 70.8
  |change     = −3.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Doug Daggett
  |votes      = 56,577
  |percentage = 24.0
  |change     = −1.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independence Party of Minnesota
  |candidate  = Lee Bauer
  |votes      = 12,001
  |percentage = 5.1
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Minnesota 5th congressional district election, 2016<ref>{{cite news|title=Minnesota U.S. House 5th District Results: Keith Ellison Wins|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/minnesota-house-district-5-ellison-drake|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 13, 2016|access-date=November 13, 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
  |candidate  = Keith Ellison
  |votes      = 249,597
  |percentage = 69.2
  |change     = −1.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = Frank Drake
  |votes      = 80,660
  |percentage = 22.3
  |change     = −1.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Dennis Schuller
  |votes      = 30,759
  |percentage = 8.5
  |change     = -}}
{{Election box end}}

===Minnesota Attorney General===

{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = [[Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018]]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| candidate = Keith Ellison
| votes = 281,142
| percentage = 49.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| candidate = [[Debra Hilstrom]]
| votes = 108,048
| percentage = 19.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| candidate = Tom Foley
| votes = 70,786
| percentage = 12.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| candidate = Matt Pelikan
| votes = 59,876
| percentage = 10.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
| candidate = Mike Rothman
| votes = 44,522
| percentage = 7.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 564,374
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[Minnesota Attorney General election, 2018]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/AttorneyGeneral/115?id=st&officeInElectionId=17118|title=Statewide Results for Attorney General|access-date=November 18, 2018|publisher=[[Minnesota Secretary of State]]|language=en}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 |party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
 |candidate = Keith Ellison
 |votes = 1,249,407
 |percentage = 48.96%
 |change = −3.64%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 |party = Republican Party of Minnesota
 |candidate = [[Doug Wardlow]]
 |votes = 1,150,459
 |percentage = 45.08%
 |change = +6.07%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 |party = Grassroots Party
 |candidate = Noah Johnson
 |votes = 145,748
 |percentage = 5.71%
 |change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party = n/a
  |candidate = Write-ins
  |votes = 6,158
  |percentage = 0.24%
  |change = +0.20%
}}
{{Election box total
  |votes      = 2,551,772
  |percentage = 100.0%
  |change     = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=[[2022 Minnesota Attorney General election | Minnesota Attorney General election, 2022]]<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/2022/2022-general-election-results/ |website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|candidate=Keith Ellison (incumbent)|votes=1,254,370|percentage=50.37%|change=+1.41%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party of Minnesota|candidate=Jim Schultz|votes=1,233,563|percentage=49.53%|change=+4.45%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link|votes=2,374|percentage=0.10%|change=-0.14%}}
{{Election box total|votes=2,490,307|percentage=100.0%|change=N/A}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==

{{Portal|Minnesota}}
* [[List of African-American United States representatives]]
* [[List of Muslim members of the United States Congress]]
* [[United States congressional delegations from Minnesota]]
* [[List of United States representatives from Minnesota]]
* [[List of Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign endorsements]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q40589|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|wikt=no|s=no}}
* [http://www.ag.state.mn.us/ Minnesota Attorney General website]
* [https://keithellison.org/ Campaign website]
{{CongLinks | congbio=e000288 | votesmart=38982 | fec=H6MN05183 | congress=keith-ellison/1857 }}
* {{C-SPAN|1022556}}
* [https://soundcloud.com/repellison/ We The Podcast] hosted by Ellison.

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{{s-bef|before=[[Martin Olav Sabo|Martin Sabo]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Minnesota|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Minnesota's 5th congressional district]]|years=2007–2019}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ilhan Omar]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Lynn Woolsey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]|years=2011–2017|alongside=[[Raúl Grijalva]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee]]|years=2017–2018}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Lori Swanson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Attorney General of Minnesota]]|years=[[2018 Minnesota Attorney General election|2018]], [[2022 Minnesota Attorney General election|2022]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Lori Swanson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Attorney General of Minnesota]]|years=2019-present}}
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{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gil Gutknecht]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former US Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Darlene Hooley]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{Minnesota Attorneys General}}
{{U.S. State Attorneys General}}
{{Current Minnesota statewide political officials}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 110th–115th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Minnesota]]}}
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{{USCongRep-end}}
{{MNRepresentatives}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Islam|Politics|United States}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellison, Keith}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Muslim members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Minnesota attorneys general]]
[[Category:Progressivism in the United States]]
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[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]
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[[Category:Muslims from Minnesota]]
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[[Category:Lawyers from Minneapolis]]
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