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Muslim Keith Ellison wins Minnesota Attorney General primary

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Keith Ellison (266558)
Keith Ellison

Despite facing allegations of domestic abuse, Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison, who is Muslim, has won the Wisconsin Primary as the Democratic nominee for Minnesota attorney general. According to the Huffington Post, Ellison beat Minnesota Rep. Deb Holstrom, former county prosecutor Tom Foley, Minneapolis attorney Matt Pelikan and former state Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman to clinch the party’s nomination. Ellison has denied allegations that he physically and verbally abused ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan, as first publicly alleged by her son in a Facebook post published Saturday. Monahan has since accused Ellison, whom she dated for several years until 2016, of emotionally abusing her, as well as dragging her off a bed. “I never behaved this way, and any characterization otherwise is false,” Ellison said Sunday in a statement. Ellison’s victory Tuesday night brings him one step closer to becoming the first Muslim statewide elected official in U.S. history, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The 55-year-old announced in June that he was giving up his congressional seat to run for attorney general. He was sworn into the House in 2006, making him the first Muslim to serve in the chamber. The Minnesota lawmaker received endorsements from several high-profile figures and organizations leading up to the race, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), former Vice President Walter Mondale, Democracy for America and NARAL Pro-Choice America. “As your next attorney general, I will continue that work and fight to protect the rights and freedoms of all,” Ellison told The Star Tribune in July. “Minnesotans will know that they always have a fighter on their side.”

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