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Aisha Gomez

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Aisha Gomez
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 62A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded bySusan Allen
Personal details
Born (1981-07-22) July 22, 1981 (age 43)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
Children1
Residence(s)Minneapolis, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (B.S.)
OccupationLegislator
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Aisha Gomez (born July 22, 1981) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Gomez represents District 62A, which includes parts of Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota.[1][2]

Early life, education, and career

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Gomez graduated from South High School in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota, graduating with a B.S. in environmental science.[1]

Before running for political office, Gomez worked with the Women's Environmental Institute for more than a decade and was a senior policy aide to Minneapolis City Council member Alondra Cano.[3][4][5]

Minnesota House of Representatives

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Gomez was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018 and has been reelected every two years since. She first ran after four-term incumbent Susan Allen announced she would not seek reelection.[1][5]

Gomez chairs the Taxes Committee, and sits on the Property Tax Division and Ways and Means Committee. From 2021 to 2022, she chaired the Preventing Homelessness Division of the Housing Finance and Policy Committee.[1] Gomez, who is of Latino, Arab, and Jewish heritage, is a member of the House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus.[6][7]

Taxes

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At the start of the 2023 legislative session, Gomez authored a tax conformity bill that was the first bill to pass the House floor.[8] It received unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers.[9][10] Gomez supported a 2021 tax bill compromise that included funding to address youth homelessness across the state.[11] She supports legalizing marijuana and has advocated for low taxes in order to "bring people out of the illicit market and into a regulated market".[12][13][14]

Public safety and police reform

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Gomez represents the area of Minneapolis where the police murder of George Floyd took place.[15] After Floyd was killed, she released a statement saying: "This is why we talk about police abolition. There is no reform that can fix this system".[16] Gomez authored legislation requiring departments of over 50 officers to institute civilian oversight boards to improve accountability.[15][17] She has been critical of the Minneapolis police, especially their use of chemical agent sprays on crowds, introducing legislation to ban the use of irritants and nonlethal ammunition, calling them "cruel and escalatory".[18][19]

Gomez signed on to a letter written by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar asking the Department of Justice to expand its investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after Floyd's murder.[20] During the 2021 Minneapolis mayoral election, she did not endorse incumbent Jacob Frey, and signed on to a letter that advocated for a "new mayor" who would do more to end racial disparities and increase public safety.[21]

Immigration policy

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Gomez led the House's efforts to pass the Driver's Licenses for All bill, which allows unauthorized immigrants to obtain a driver's license.[22][23][24] In 2003, Governor Tim Pawlenty revoked that privilege in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.[25] She authored legislation to ensure municipal ID application information was private and not accessible by federal immigration authorities.[26][27] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she introduced a bill to establish relief grants for immigrants not eligible for federal COVID relief like stimulus checks.[28] Gomez sponsored legislation to ban for-profit immigration detention centers in Minnesota.[29]

Other political positions

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Gomez has led efforts to address homelessness, especially for youth and in families with school-age children.[30] She introduced a bill that would increase funding for shelter-based mental health services and require cities take certain steps before clearing out homeless encampments.[31] Gomez publicly criticized legislators for failing to act to address the opioid epidemic, calling out the pharmaceutical industry's campaign contributions.[32]

During the 2019 selection process for the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, which must be confirmed by the legislature, Gomez and other legislators criticized the list of candidates for its lack of diversity.[33][34] Gomez wrote an op-ed calling for a more racially equitable transit system, and investment in transit lines that run through historically marginalized communities.[35]

Gomez signed on to a letter calling on the Biden administration to stop Line 3, a tar sands pipeline proposed to cut through Minnesota tribal lands.[36] She opposed city plans to turn a site in Minneapolis's East Phillips neighborhood into a public works campus instead of a community center and garden.[37] In 2019, Gomez signed a letter of support for Representative Ilhan Omar after she was accused of making antisemitic comments.[38]

Electoral history

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2018 Minnesota State House - District 62B[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Aisha Gomez 17,928 92.07
Republican Ronald W. Peterson 1,502 7.71
Write-in 42 0.22
Total votes 19,472 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2020 Minnesota State House - District 62B[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Aisha Gomez (incumbent) 19,121 90.95
Republican Ross Tenneson 1,872 8.90
Write-in 30 0.14
Total votes 21,023 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold
2022 DFL Primary for Minnesota State House - District 62A[41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Aisha Gomez (incumbent) 4,167 69.44
Democratic (DFL) Osman Ahmed 1,834 30.56
Total votes 6,001 100.0
2022 Minnesota State House - District 62A[42]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Aisha Gomez (incumbent) 10,961 98.77
Write-in 137 1.23
Total votes 11,098 100.0
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

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Gomez resides in Minneapolis's Central neighborhood with her son, Andre.[3] She is of both Hispanic/Latino and Arab ethnicity and identifies with the Jewish faith.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Gomez, Aisha - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Rep. Aisha Gomez (62A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Thomas, Dylan (January 9, 2018). "Open House seat draws a crowd". Southwest Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Best, Eric (October 18, 2018). "New representatives on the way in three House districts". Southwest Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Belz, Adam (December 8, 2017). "DFL state Reps. Karen Clark and Susan Allen of Minneapolis will not seek re-election in 2018". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Agbaje, Esther; et al. (May 18, 2022). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Find room in the budget deal for communities of color". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Kaul, Greta (November 19, 2018). "The 2019 Minnesota House of Representatives is going to be a little more representative". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  8. ^ Bakst, Brian (January 5, 2023). "Small tax bill on fast track, but bigger debates loom". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (January 7, 2023). "Minnesotans could see tax breaks as legislators race to align state, federal rules". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (January 12, 2023). "What Minnesota's new tax law means for student borrowers, restaurants and other businesses". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Bakst, Brian (June 18, 2021). "Tax cuts prevail over tax hikes at Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Faircloth, Ryan (January 5, 2023). "'2023 is the year': Minnesota Democrats unveil bill to legalize recreational marijuana". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  13. ^ Bakst, Brian (January 5, 2023). "Push for legal marijuana begins at Minnesota Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Callaghan, Peter (January 6, 2023). "Tax chair: Legal pot wouldn't fund Minnesota education, social programs". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Williams, Brandt (March 5, 2021). "After Floyd's death, police reform efforts move slowly". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Star Tribune Staff reports (May 28, 2020). "What they said: Leaders react to George Floyd death". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Pugmire, Tim (April 14, 2021). "MN House panel moves to change police powers". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Jany, Libor (October 11, 2019). "Minneapolis police chief commends officers for showing 'admirable restraint' in face of rowdy crowds". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  19. ^ Bakst, Brian (April 18, 2021). "Lawmakers tussle over public safety practices as Chauvin verdict nears". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  20. ^ Montemayor, Stephen (June 8, 2021). "Rep. Ilhan Omar leads call for DOJ to expand Minnesota federal policing probe". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Navratil, Liz (October 18, 2021). "Divided left field of Minneapolis mayoral hopefuls have unified message: Don't rank Frey". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  22. ^ Ferguson, Dana (January 11, 2023). "Immigrants plead with lawmakers to pass driver's license bill". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  23. ^ Krauss, Louis. "Minnesota House votes to allow driver's licenses for unauthorized immigrants". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  24. ^ Deng, Grace (January 31, 2023). "Minnesota House passes bill to give driver's licenses to undocumented residents". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  25. ^ Jackson, Zoë (January 10, 2023). "'Driver's Licenses for All' campaign debuts in key Minnesota House committee". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  26. ^ Navratil, Liz (February 22, 2020). "Minneapolis places city ID program on hold". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  27. ^ Callaghan, Peter (March 21, 2019). "The Legislature really wants to help and/or hurt Minnesota cities setting municipal ID programs". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  28. ^ Rao, Maya (May 13, 2020). "COVID-19 poses special challenges for immigrants in the country illegally and their families". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  29. ^ Feshir, Riham (August 23, 2019). "Minnesota lawmakers announce plan to ban for-profit immigration detention". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  30. ^ Foldes, Steven (May 14, 2021). "It is in Minnesota taxpayers' interest to invest in families' housing stability now". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  31. ^ Du, Susan (March 16, 2022). "City crews clear North Loop homeless encampment in massive enforcement operation". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  32. ^ Callaghan, Peter (February 13, 2019). "'It's time': How the politics of addressing Minnesota's opioid crisis changed at the Capitol". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  33. ^ Phaneuf, Taryn (April 10, 2019). "DFL, divided on U of M regent candidates, may hand off decision to Walz". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  34. ^ Phaneuf, Taryn (May 10, 2019). "Legislature chooses four new University of Minnesota regents". MinnPost. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  35. ^ Gomez, Aisha; Hassan, Hodan; Hayden, Jeff; Torres Ray, Patricia; Conley, Angela; Jenkins, Andrea (June 18, 2020). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Fund a more racially equitable transportation system". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  36. ^ Keeler, Heather; McEwen, Jen; Kunesh, Mary (January 27, 2021). "OPINION EXCHANGE | Next up for Biden: Stop Line 3". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  37. ^ Du, Susan (August 5, 2021). "Minneapolis City Council considers costly new options for Roof Depot site". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  38. ^ The Associated Press (March 5, 2019). "Some MN elected officials express support for Omar". MPR News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  39. ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 62B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  40. ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 62B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  41. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 62A Primary". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  42. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 62A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
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