Safiya Khalid

Safiya Said Khalid (born 1996) is a Somali-American politician serving as a member of the Lewiston, Maine City Council.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Safiya Khalid
Member of the Lewiston City Council
Assumed office
January 6, 2020
Personal details
Born1996 (age 23–24)
Somalia
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Southern Maine (BA)

Early years and education

Khalid was born in Somalia. As a seven-year-old, Khalid fled the country with her mother and two younger brothers. Her family initially settled in New Jersey before moving to Lewiston, Maine.[7] At fourteen years old, she became an American citizen. She attended Lewiston Public Schools and graduated from Lewiston High School. Khalid went on to graduate from the University of Southern Maine, where she studied psychology.[1][2][8]

Career

Khalid worked for L.L.Bean making boots during high school and college. After graduating, she worked for the Maine Democratic Party as a field organizer in Lewiston. She later worked as a clerk for the Maine Legislature's Committee on Housing and Labor. She currently works as a case manager for the nonprofit Gateway Community Services in Maine.[9]

Politics

In 2017, Khalid ran for the Lewiston School Committee. She lost to the incumbent by a wide margin. Shortly after the election, she was elected as vice chair of the Lewiston Democratic Party.

In 2018, Khalid won a seat representing Androscoggin County on the Maine Democratic Party State Committee. She went on to be elected to the Maine Democratic Party Executive Committee.

In 2019, Khalid ran for the Lewiston City Council. On November 5, 2019, Khalid won the election with nearly 70 percent of the vote.[9][3][4][10][5][6][7] Khalid took office on January 6, 2020.[11] She serves on the Lewiston Finance Committee, Lewiston Housing Committee, and the Community Development Block Grant Committee.[12]

Khalid serves as vice chair of the Lewiston Democratic Party.[13] She endorsed Bernie Sanders during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and served as one of his Maine co-chairs.[14] After Sanders dropped out of the race, she endorsed Joe Biden.[15]

Election Results
2019 Lewiston, Maine general election: City Council Ward 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Safiya Khalid 642 69.6 NA
Democratic Walter Hill 280 30.4 NA
2017 Lewiston, Maine general election: School Committee At-Large
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Independent Megan Parks 6,694 71.9 NA
Democratic Safiya Khalid 2,619 28.1 NA
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References
  1. "Racist trolls targeted a Somali refugee's campaign. She still managed to pull off a historic victory". The Washington Post. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  2. Holpuch, Amanda (2019-11-11). "'It's mindblowing': historic wins for two Somali-Americans amid ugly smears". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  3. Rice, rew; Journal, Matthew Daigle Sun (2019-11-07). "Somali community revels in Safiya Khalid's victory in Lewiston council race". Press Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  4. "Safiya Khalid becomes first Somali American elected to Lewiston City Council". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  5. "Historic win for Lewiston, Maine, as it elects 1st Somali-American to city council". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  6. Somali woman overcomes racist trolls to win historic election in Maine - CNN Video, retrieved 2019-11-19
  7. "Racist trolls failed to derail this Somali refugee's political ambitions". SBS News. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  8. "Safiya Khalid '18 draws worldwide media by defeating Internet trolls and winning her election | Office of Public Affairs | University of Southern Maine". usm.maine.edu. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  9. Journal, Lindsay TiceSun (2019-11-10). "Safiya Khalid's win considered 'milestone' for Lewiston". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  10. "Somali who was target of threats wins US municipal election". AP NEWS. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  11. "Lewiston swears in first Somali-American city councilor". 2020-01-06.
  12. http://www.lewistonmaine.gov/971/Ward-1-City-Councilor
  13. https://www.lewistondemocrats.com/officers
  14. https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/phish-co-founder-and-troy-jackson-among-those-named-as-maine-super-tuesday-co-chairs-for-sanders-campaign/97-0c503af1-dd3f-45f0-973c-43026d6c8703
  15. https://twitter.com/Safiya_S_Khalid/status/1248025688931631104
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