Keith Ellison

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) has represented the Fifth Congressional District of Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives since taking office on Jan. 4, 2007. Representative Ellison previously served two terms representing Legislative District 58B in the Minnesota State House of Representatives, from 2003 to 2007. While in the state legislature, he served on the Public Safety, Policy and Finance Committee, and the Election and Civil Law Committee. Representative Ellison made history as the first African American from Minnesota to serve in the U.S. Congress. He also made history by becoming the first person of the Muslim faith in America to serve in Congress. Representative Ellison serves on the Financial Services and Judiciary committees. Representative Ellison, now 44 years old, was born and raised in Detroit. He moved to Minnesota in 1987 to attend the University of Minnesota Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1990. Representative Ellison and his wife, Kim Ellison, have lived on the Minneapolis Northside for the past 18 years. Kim is a high school mathematics teacher. They are the proud parents of four children.