MN Lt. Governor Flanagan puts on hijab, declares Somalis built Minnesota

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan wore a hijab during a visit to the Karmel Somali Market in Minneapolis. The visit was intended as a gesture of solidarity with the Somali community following reports of federal immigration enforcement actions in the area.

During her appearance, Flanagan stated, "The Somali community is part of the fabric of the state of Minnesota," and emphasized that the community had "built" parts of the state through their entrepreneurship and cultural contributions.

Flanagan, who is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and is currently running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, was accompanied by long-time friend and DFL state director Nimco Ahmed. Addressing the crowd, Flanagan greeted them with "As-salamu alaykum" and told residents, "We've got your back," while encouraging the public to support Somali-owned businesses during what she described as "scary" and "uncertain" times.

The event sparked immediate political controversy. Critics, including U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, characterized the move as a "stunt" designed to court far-left voters. Others pointed to the timing of the visit, noting that it occurred while federal investigators continued to probe a massive pandemic-era food aid fraud scandal involving the "Feeding Our Future" program, which has seen dozens of indictments within the state.

In response to the backlash, Flanagan’s campaign stated that she was handed the scarf by a friend and wore it briefly as a sign of respect for the local culture.

Her supporters and local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, defended the visit, arguing that the focus should remain on the "unconstitutional" nature of recent masked federal agent activities in the city rather than the Lieutenant Governor’s attire.