Sunday’s Ramsey County Commissioner District 5 endorsing convention was marred by claims of antisemitism as neither St. Paul City Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, who is Jewish, nor State Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega earned the DFL endorsement.
According to witnesses who reported the incident to Noecker campaign officials, State Rep. Samakab Hussein, who is backing Perez-Vega, told Somali Muslim delegates “not to vote for Rebecca because she is Jewish,” and that Muslim law prohibits voting for a Jewish candidate. After one Noecker delegate heard and was upset by the comment, Hussein is said to have taken delegates away from the crowded hall to a more private space at St. Paul Humboldt High School, according to Noecker sources who are being granted anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“I am saddened by the discriminatory comments made about my Jewish faith at the Ramsey County Convention,” Noecker said in a statement. “I am calling out this experience because it is important for us to name hate when we see it. Political campaigns should be about ideas, experiences, and shared visions for our community- not vehicles to spread prejudice or misinformation. I hope that going forward we can hold ourselves and our politics to the highest standard of inclusion and respect.”
One Noecker supporter referenced Hussein using similar language about a white, non-Jewish candidate at a different caucus where he was trying to whip up support for Hussein’s preferred candidate.
According to a source connected to the Noecker campaign, Perez-Vega surrogates have been reaching out to Noecker’s campaign to discuss the issue, saying that this is an attempt to “smear a candidate of color.”
A voicemail left for Hussein was not returned prior to publication, but he posted a lengthy denial to his Facebook page Thursday evening:
“It is deeply demoralizing when falsehoods are spread in politics.
“Recently, rumors have circulated alleging that I made an antisemitic comment at the Ramsey County Convention. These claims are completely untrue. Anyone who knows me understands that I would never make such a statement, nor would I support anyone who does. This is an unfounded attack on my character, and it should be condemned.
“I have always worked alongside and supported individuals from all backgrounds, including members of the Jewish community. Our democracy is strongest when everyone is represented and respected. I have zero tolerance for antisemitism or any form of hate—there is no place for it in our politics or our communities.
“We cannot allow false narratives to divide us. I ask that you challenge misinformation when you encounter it and share the truth.
“I can only imagine the pain Rebecca and the broader community are feeling in the wake of this incident. As a Muslim man in politics, I understand what it means to be targeted because of one’s faith, and I would never wish that kind of harm on anyone.”
A volunteer in Perez-Vega’s campaign posted a statement to its Facebook page Monday evening that is purportedly about this incident: “Attacking candidates for their faith, ethnicity, gender identity, or economic status has no place in this campaign and is wrong. We believe campaigns should be about ideas, leadership, and the future we build together. That is always how I’ve run my campaigns and always will.”
The Perez-Vega volunteer said that while he does not know about antisemitic statements, the campaign would “absolutely condemn it.”
“If it happened, we would tell that person to leave the campaign and leave the building,” he said.
When told that Hussein was alleged to have made the comments, the volunteer said, “That sounds insane to me.”
“It sounds like a sure way to lose a lot of votes, but representative Hussein can speak for himself and stand for himself,” said the volunteer, citing Hussein’s previous support for State Sen. Sandy Pappas, who is Jewish. “He certainly never consulted us, but we don’t believe that just doesn’t fit with anything.”
Uriah Ward, Omar Syed and Stephanie Anderson, the three DFL-endorsed candidates for Saint Paul School Board, posted a joint statement “to be clear that there is no place for antisemitism in our party or in our community.”
“We are a party and community of all faiths and all ethnicities,” the statement read. “We condemn all forms of bigotry and hope the DFL will take all necessary steps to both address these reports as well as make certain our future conventions are fair and welcoming to all candidates.
A spokesperson for the Minnesota DFL said the party was aware of the incident, and reiterated a recent statement from DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom, which it “stand[s] by in every instance”:
“We need to do better.
“The DFL Party has always been about bringing people in and taking care of one another, and our Jewish brothers and sisters are an essential part of that fabric. We are strongest when we are united, and we treat all communities with respect and dignity.
“At a time when antisemitism is on the rise, we must be clear: rhetoric or actions that single out the Jewish community undermine the inclusive values that define our party.
“We stand with our Jewish neighbors and condemn antisemitism and harassment in all forms, without reservation. Our politics shouldn’t divide us, but build the biggest tent possible to improve the lives of Minnesotans.”
Perez-Vega supporters are also alleged to have claimed that the Faith In Minnesota Coalition, a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” arm of ISAIAH, had endorsed their candidate ahead of Sunday’s convention. However, according to a spokesperson for Faith In Minnesota, the organization declined to endorse either candidate. The organization sent a photo of a delegate who claimed to be with Faith in Minnesota to both campaigns, confirming that the person was not affiliated with the organization.
During the vote, Noecker took 209 votes to Perez-Vega’s 208, with two not voting to endorse. Because there is a 60 percent threshold to get the endorsement, neither candidate will be DFL-endorsed, and both will be on the ballot in the August primary. The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners 5th District covers Downtown, Highland Park, Macalester-Groveland, West Seventh, West Side, and Dayton’s Bluff.
“These are two good candidates that can talk seriously about issues and accomplishments,” the Perez-Vega volunteer said. “And that’s what this race should be about, not different racial subgroups.”
Non of my Muslim friends including the Somali American Community have ever made a statement like that. Many of us Jews, Muslims, Christians etc despise netanyahu, hamas, and hezbollah. That has nothing to do with voting to endorse local officials. I have a long history of helping Somali American candidates.
Michael Hindin writes: “None of my Muslim friends including the Somali American Community have ever made a statement like that. ”
It’s most unusual for a mere human to have always been in the physical presence of their friends and bore witness to everything they have spoken.
Mr. Hindin seems to ascribe to himself the divine powers of Hashem,