Minnesota state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed Nominated for EMILYs List’s Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced that Minnesota state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed is a nominee for the 2026 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. Named in honor of the courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office.
“EMILYs List is proud to announce the nomination of Minnesota state Sen. Zaynab Mohamed for the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. As the Trump administration terrorized her community, state Sen. Mohamed stood strong, fiercely defending the immigrant community as ICE raids intensified. State Sen. Mohamed’s tireless advocacy, steady leadership and deep commitment to her community are shining examples of what bold leadership looks like,” said EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler.
Sen. Zaynab Mohamed represents Minnesota’s Senate District 63. Elected in 2022 with more votes than any other Minnesota state senator, she became the youngest person ever elected to the chamber, the first Somali American woman, and one of the first three Black women to serve in the Senate. She is a transformative leader who stands with her community during moments of crisis. During Operation Metro Surge, she supported neighbors by helping ensure families had food and could remain safely in their homes. She shows up consistently for her community — from standing with neighbors after the ICE killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti to supporting families affected by the Annunciation Catholic School shooting. In her first term, Sen. Mohamed guaranteed every Minnesotan’s right to reproductive freedom and passed a nation-leading paid leave program. She has also been a strong advocate for immigrant communities, championing the right of all Minnesotans to obtain a driver’s license and pushing for affordable health care regardless of immigration status. Sen. Mohamed is leading the charge to protect Minnesotans from gun violence, as the lead author of legislation to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Sen. Mohamed continues to push bold policies as co-chair of the Senate Working Group on Gun Violence Prevention, vice chair of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee, and chair of the Minnesota People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, and is only getting started in her career improving the lives of all Minnesotans.
The Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award winner will be chosen with community input. Online voting will open on March 23, and can be found here. State Sen. Zaynab Mohamed is nominated alongside: Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, Georgia Rep. Tanya Miller, Indiana state Rep. Carey Hamilton, and New Mexico state Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta.
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