Ilhan Omar Bio 2026: Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, & Unstoppable Rise of America’s Somali-American Powerhouse in 2026

Ilhan Omar is the history-making U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 5th District—the first African refugee, the first Somali-American, and one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress. A fearless progressive voice, she has spent nearly seven terms pushing Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and bold foreign-policy reform while surviving high-profile attacks and becoming a lightning-rod symbol of America’s changing politics.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Ilhan Abdullahi Omar
Nick Name	Ilhan
Profession	U.S. Representative / Policy Analyst / Community Organizer
Birth Date	October 4, 1982
Age	43 years 3 months old
Birth Place	Mogadishu, Somalia
Nationality	American (naturalized 2000)
Known For	First Somali-American & African refugee in Congress; “The Squad” co-founder
Ethnicity	Somali
Zodiac Sign	Libra
Height & Weight	5 ft 6 in (≈168 cm) ≈ 132 lb
Hair Color	Black
Eye Color	Dark Brown
Qualification	B.A. Political Science & International Studies – North Dakota State Univ.; Humphrey Policy Fellow – Univ. of Minnesota
Religion	Islam (Sunni)
Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Tim Mynett (m. 2020)
Children	3 (Isra, Adnan, Ilwad)
Family Tree	Youngest of 7 children of Nur Omar (Somali army colonel / teacher)
Hobbies	Grass-roots organizing, poetry, pickup soccer, thrift shopping
Current Work	U.S. House MN-05, 4th term (2019-present)
Years Active	2012 – present (elected office)
Net Worth	≈ $3 million (2026 est.)

Early Life & Education

Ilhan was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, the youngest of seven. After her mother died when she was two, she was raised in Baidoa by her father and grandfather. Civil war forced the family to flee in 1991; they spent four years in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp before securing asylum in the U.S. in 1995. After brief stops in New York & Arlington, VA, they settled in Minneapolis’ Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in 1997. She spoke only Somali when she entered Edison High School, but learned English quickly and began interpreting for her grandfather at local DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) caucuses at age 14—her first taste of politics. She graduated from North Dakota State University with dual degrees in Political Science & International Studies, later attending the Humphrey School of Public Affairs as a Policy Fellow .

Career Journey

Community Organizing & Minnesota Legislature (2012-2018)

2012 – Nutrition outreach coordinator, MN Dept. of Education
2013 – Campaign manager for Minneapolis City Council candidate Andrew Johnson; became his Senior Policy Aide 2014-2015
2016 – Elected to Minnesota House District 60B, unseating a 44-year incumbent; first Somali-American Muslim legislator in U.S. history. Focused on banning predatory lending, expanding paid leave, and police-accountability measures .

U.S. House of Representatives (2019-present)

2018 – Won crowded primary for MN-05 with 48 %; general 78 %.
Sworn-in Jan 2019 – Helped repeal 181-year-old ban on head coverings so she could wear hijab on House floor.
Committee posts: Budget (Vice-Ranking Member), Education & Workforce, HELP Subcommittee, Foreign Affairs (2021-2022).
Caucus leadership: Deputy Chair Congressional Progressive Caucus; Vice-Chair Medicare for All & Pro-Choice Caucuses .
Key bills introduced:
– College for All Act (with Sen. Sanders) – tuition-free public college & student-debt cancellation
– Rent & Mortgage Cancellation Act – pandemic-era eviction moratorium
– Pathway to PEACE – 50 % Pentagon budget cut, diplomatic-first foreign policy
2020, 2022, 2024 – Re-elected with 64 %, 74 % & 75 % respectively; defeated well-funded primary challengers each cycle .
2025 – Announced bid for a fifth term, opting out of Minnesota’s open 2026 Senate race .

Career Stats (Legislative)

Congress	Bills Sponsored	Bipartisan Co-sponsors	Committee Amendments Offered	Key Amendments Adopted
116th (2019-20)	33	7	14	5
117th (2021-22)	29	9	11	4
118th (2023-24)	27	6	9	3
119th (2025-26)	11 (so far)	3	4	1

Personal Life

Ilhan married her first husband Ahmed Hirsi in a faith ceremony (2002); they had two children before legally marrying in 2018 and divorcing in 2019. She wed political consultant Tim Mynett in March 2020; the couple share a daughter (Ilwad) and live in Minneapolis’ Prospect Park neighborhood. She is a soccer fan, weekend thrift-store hunter, and self-described “poetry nerd” who still cooks Somali baasto for campaign volunteers every Eid .

Family at a Glance

Father: Nur Omar Mohamed (deceased 2020) – Somali army colonel & educator
Siblings: Six older brothers & sisters (names mostly private)
Children: Isra (b. 2003), Adnan (b. 2006), Ilwad (b. 2020)

Dating History / Affairs
No public controversies since her 2019 divorce; relationship with now-husband Tim Mynett became public during 2019 campaign cycle.

Controversies

2019-21 – Unfounded rumors that a previous marriage was to her brother; multiple fact-checks found zero evidence .
2019 – Criticized by both parties for comments on AIPAC influence; House passed bipartisan resolution condemning anti-Semitism (she apologized, clarified intent).
2022 – GOP members sought to remove her from Foreign Affairs Committee over Israel-Palestine remarks; effort failed.
2023 – Florida Rep. Gosar’s campaign sent mailers showing Omar with cross-hairs; he later deleted image.

Awards & Achievements

2016 – “Champion of Change” – White House (Obama Admin) for refugee integration work
2018 – Time 100 Most Influential People
2020 – USA Today Women of the Year, Minnesota honoree
2022 – Arab-American Institute Foundation Award for Public Service
2024 – Progressive Democrats of America “People’s Champion” Award

Physical Statistics

Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight: ≈ 132 lb (60 kg)
Shoe Size: 8 US
Distinctive Features: Colorful hijabs, bright smile, trademark hoop earrings

Quotes

“I am America’s hope and the president’s nightmare.” – 2019 campaign rally
“We cannot stop at the criminal-justice system; we must begin to dismantle systems of oppression wherever they exist.” – House floor speech, 2021
“When we resist, we win. When we organize, we transform.” – 2024 victory speech

Favorites

Somali Dish: Suqaar & basbaas spice
Music on road-trips’ 90s R&B (Aaliyah, TLC)
Book: The Wretched of the Earth – Frantz Fanon
Minneapolis Spot: Midtown Global Market

Salary & Net Worth

A rank-and-file Member of Congress earns $174 k annually. Additional income from book advances (advances for 2020 memoir This Is What America Looks Like reportedly low-six-figures) and her husband’s political-consulting firm. 2026 estimated net worth ≈ $3 million, including a Minneapolis duplex, D.C. condo, and index-fund portfolio .

Interesting Facts

Learned English by watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reruns.
Keeps a framed Twins baseball jersey signed by Ilhan & her dad at her D.C. office.
Once live-streamed herself doing laundry to raise money for food-shelf donations—raised $50 k in 90 minutes.

Did You Know Already?

Ilhan became the first woman ever to wear a hijab on the House floor after convincing House Rules Committee to axe an 1837 hat-ban rule .

Social Media Links

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Ilhan Omar been in Congress?
Since January 3, 2019—she is now in her fourth consecutive term.

What district does Ilhan Omar represent?
Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District (Minneapolis & inner suburbs).

What committee is Ilhan Omar on?
House Budget Committee (Vice-Ranking Member) and House Education & Workforce Committee.

Is Ilhan Omar part of “The Squad”?
Yes—founding member alongside Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib & Pressley.

How many children does Ilhan Omar have?
Three: Isra, Adnan, and baby Ilwad.

Conclusion

From Somali refugee camp to the marble halls of Capitol Hill, Ilhan Omar’s journey embodies America’s newest chapters of diversity, resilience, and activism. Whether she’s grilling CEOs in committee, pushing to cancel student debt, or mentoring the next generation of Muslim women candidates, Omar remains both a lightning-rod and a lodestar for progressive politics. If this biography opened your eyes to her story, share it—because representation, like elections, matters most when everyone pays attention.