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20-year-old Abshir Ali launched a campaign for state house in district 65B, representing the northern half of West St. Paul.
Where: District 65B includes the northern half of West St. Paul, the West Side, downtown, West 7th, and more. The district leans heavily to the DFL—María Isa Pérez-Vega won the 2024 election with more than 76% of the vote.
Context: It’s an open seat this year since incumbent Pérez-Vega is running for Ramsey County Commissioner. Sebastian Ellefson has also announced a run.
The Candidate
DFL candidate Abshir Ali is a local community leader and organizer.
- Why: “I am a young leader, but I am not new to responsibility. I bring vision, energy, and a deep understanding of how to move institutions while staying grounded in the needs of the people.”
- Day job: Senior director for the nonprofit People in Action.
- Experience: Multiple committees for the City of Saint Paul, including serving as an aide to the mayor. The Sahan Journal profiled Ali in 2023.
- More: Learn more at Ali’s website.
What’s Next
Caucuses are February 3, and the party endorsement process happens in the spring, with the filing period closing on June 2. A primary, if necessary, will be Aug. 11, 2026.
April 10, 2026 Update: Campaign Suspended
On April 5, Ali announced he was suspending his campaign.
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