Safiya Khalid
Member of the Lewiston City Council
In office
January 6, 2020 – January 3, 2022
Personal details
Born1996 (age 27–28)
Somalia
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materUniversity of Southern Maine (BA)

Safiya Said Khalid (born 1996) is a Somali-American politician who served as a member of the Lewiston, Maine City Council.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Early years and education

Khalid was born in Somalia. As a seven-year-old, Khalid fled the country with her mother and two younger brothers. Her family initially settled in New Jersey before moving to Lewiston, Maine.[7] At fourteen years old, she became an American citizen. She attended Lewiston Public Schools and graduated from Lewiston High School. Khalid went on to graduate from the University of Southern Maine, where she studied psychology.[1][2][8] Khalid is currently a graduate student at Northeastern University studying public policy. [9]

Career

Khalid worked for L.L.Bean making boots during high school and college. After graduating, she worked for the Maine Democratic Party as a field organizer in Lewiston. She later worked as a clerk for the Maine Legislature's Committee on Housing and Labor. She currently works as a case manager for the nonprofit Gateway Community Services in Maine.[10]

Politics

In 2017, Khalid ran for the Lewiston School Committee. She lost to the incumbent by a wide margin. Shortly after the election, she was elected as vice chair of the Lewiston Democratic Party.

In 2018, Khalid won a seat representing Androscoggin County on the Maine Democratic Party State Committee. She went on to be elected to the Maine Democratic Party Executive Committee.

In 2019, Khalid ran for the Lewiston City Council. On November 5, 2019, Khalid won the election with nearly 70 percent of the vote.[10][3][4][11][5][6][7] Khalid took office on January 6, 2020.[12] She serves on the Lewiston Finance Committee, Lewiston Housing Committee, and the Community Development Block Grant Committee.[13]

Khalid served as vice chair of the Lewiston Democratic Party.[14] She endorsed Bernie Sanders during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries and served as one of his Maine co-chairs.[15] After Sanders dropped out of the race, she endorsed Joe Biden.[16]

In 2021, Khalid ran for chair of the Lewiston Democratic Party seeking to succeed outgoing Chair Kiernan Majerus-Collins. After facing hostility and racist comments at a party meeting, she withdrew from the race.[17]

Election Results

2019 Lewiston, Maine general election: City Council Ward 1
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Safiya Khalid 642 69.6 NA
Democratic Walter Hill 280 30.4 NA
2017 Lewiston, Maine general election: School Committee At-Large
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Megan Parks 6,694 71.9 NA
Democratic Safiya Khalid 2,619 28.1 NA

References

  1. 1 2 "Racist trolls targeted a Somali refugee's campaign. She still managed to pull off a historic victory". The Washington Post. 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  2. 1 2 Holpuch, Amanda (2019-11-11). "'It's mindblowing': historic wins for two Somali-Americans amid ugly smears". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  3. 1 2 Rice, rew; Journal, Matthew Daigle Sun (2019-11-07). "Somali community revels in Safiya Khalid's victory in Lewiston council race". Press Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  4. 1 2 "Safiya Khalid becomes first Somali American elected to Lewiston City Council". Bangor Daily News. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  5. 1 2 "Historic win for Lewiston, Maine, as it elects 1st Somali-American to city council". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  6. 1 2 Somali woman overcomes racist trolls to win historic election in Maine - CNN Video, retrieved 2019-11-19
  7. 1 2 "Racist trolls failed to derail this Somali refugee's political ambitions". SBS News. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  8. ↑ "Safiya Khalid '18 draws worldwide media by defeating Internet trolls and winning her election". usm.maine.edu. University of Southern Maine. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  9. ↑ Warner, Stacey (11 February 2022). "Safiya Khalid looks to the future and reflects on the past". Amjambo Africa. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 Journal, Lindsay TiceSun (2019-11-10). "Safiya Khalid's win considered 'milestone' for Lewiston". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  11. ↑ "Somali who was target of threats wins US municipal election". AP NEWS. 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  12. ↑ "Lewiston swears in first Somali-American city councilor". 2020-01-06.
  13. ↑ "Ward 1 Councilor Safiya Khalid | Lewiston, ME - Official Website". Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Officers". Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  15. ↑ "Phish co-founder and Troy Jackson among those named as Maine Super Tuesday co-chairs for Sanders campaign".
  16. ↑ Khalid, Safiya [@Safiya_S_Khalid] (April 8, 2020). "Even though many, including myself are terribly heart broken about Sanders Campaign, I know one thing for sure. That Bernie Sanders ideas are the future of this country. Being a 24 year old female I resonated with his ideas and mission and I know millennials and Gen-Z are too" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020 – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "Lewiston Democrats in turmoil as election season begins". 27 July 2021.


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