# Keith Ellison

> American politician (born 1963)

**Wikidata**: [Q40589](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q40589)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Ellison)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/keith-ellison

## Summary
Keith Ellison is an American politician and lawyer born on August 4, 1963. He is the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress and the first to swear his oath of office on the Quran. Ellison has served as a U.S. Representative for Minnesota and later as the state’s Attorney General, advocating for civil rights and progressive policies.

## Biography
- **Born**: August 4, 1963  
- **Nationality**: American  
- **Education**:  
  - Wayne State University (Bachelor’s degree)  
  - University of Minnesota Law School (Juris Doctor)  
- **Known for**: First Muslim member of the U.S. Congress, advocate for progressive policies and civil rights.  
- **Employer(s)**: U.S. House of Representatives, State of Minnesota.  
- **Field(s)**: Politics, law.  

## Contributions
- **2006**: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim member of Congress.  
- **2007**: Took his congressional oath of office on the Quran, a copy once owned by Thomas Jefferson.  
- **2017–2023**: Served as Attorney General of Minnesota, focusing on consumer protection and criminal justice reform.  
- **Advocacy**: Co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus and supported legislation on racial justice, economic equality, and healthcare access.  

## FAQs
**What is Keith Ellison’s religious significance in U.S. politics?**  
He is the first Muslim elected to Congress (2006) and the first to use the Quran for his swearing-in ceremony, marking a milestone for religious diversity in American political leadership.  

**What roles has Keith Ellison held in Minnesota?**  
He represented Minnesota’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House (2007–2017) and later served as Minnesota Attorney General (2019–2023).  

**What legal and political issues has Ellison prioritized?**  
He has championed civil rights, voting rights, and criminal justice reform, including efforts to address police misconduct and systemic racism.  

**What controversies has Ellison faced?**  
In 2018, he faced allegations of domestic abuse, which he denied and which were later investigated and deemed “unsubstantiated” by the Democratic National Committee.  

## Why They Matter
Keith Ellison’s career has expanded representation in U.S. politics as a Muslim American and advocate for progressive causes. His leadership in Congress and as Attorney General advanced policies on racial equity, economic justice, and voting rights, influencing national debates on systemic reform. His advocacy for marginalized communities and his role in founding the Congressional Progressive Caucus have shaped left-wing political strategies. Without Ellison, Muslim representation in federal office would have emerged later, and key progressive legislative efforts might have lacked critical momentum.  

## Notable For
- **Firsts**: First Muslim U.S. Congressman (2007), first to swear on the Quran in Congress.  
- **Leadership**: Co-founder of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.  
- **Legal Career**: Minnesota Attorney General (2019–2023), prioritizing consumer rights and police accountability.  
- **Awards**: Recipient of the NAACP’s Medgar Evers Award for civil rights advocacy.  

## Body

### Early Life and Education  
Keith Maurice Ellison was born on August 4, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School.  

### Political Career  
- **Congressional Service (2007–2017)**: Represented Minnesota’s 5th district, focusing on progressive policies, including the Affordable Care Act and Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform.  
- **DNC Deputy Chair (2017–2018)**: Elected to a leadership role in the Democratic National Committee while serving in Congress.  
- **Minnesota Attorney General (2019–2023)**: Led high-profile cases, including a lawsuit against Juul Labs for youth vaping marketing and investigations into police misconduct following the murder of George Floyd.  

### Legal Career  
Ellison worked as a public defender and later in private practice before entering politics. As Attorney General, he emphasized civil rights litigation and consumer protection, securing settlements against corporations for deceptive practices.  

### Legacy  
Ellison’s career has centered on breaking barriers for Muslim Americans in politics and advancing social justice. His work in Congress and state government has influenced progressive movements nationwide, particularly in addressing systemic racism and economic inequality. His 2018 campaign for Attorney General, during which he overcame political challenges, underscored his commitment to reforming law enforcement practices.

## References

1. [Clida Martinez Ellison, mother of MN attorney general, dies of COVID-19 complications. 2020](https://www.twincities.com/2020/04/15/coronavirus-clida-martinez-ellison-keith-mother-of-mn-attorney-general-dies/)
2. [Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=E000288)
3. [Source](https://www.congress.gov/member/keith-ellison/E000288)
4. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
5. BlackPast.org
6. [Source](http://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20170101-links.txt.gz)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](https://github.com/unitedstates/congress-legislators)
10. BBC Things
11. Library of Congress Control Number
12. Quora
13. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/keith-ellison-107a9Gf5Ge/appearances)
14. YouTube API