Mohamud Noor

In 2010, Noor ran for a seat on the board of the Minneapolis Public Schools, finishing in fifth place.[11] In December 2013, he was appointed to the Minneapolis school board, beating Ubah Jama by a 5-3 vote after the death of Hussein Samatar.[12] He resigned from the school board to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014.[13]

In 2011, Noor lost to Kari Dzeidzic in a special election DFL primary for an open Minnesota Senate seat created by the retirement of nine-term incumbent Larry Pogemiller.[14][15]

In 2017, Noor challenged incumbent Abdi Warsame for City Council in Minneapolis Ward 6.[16] He said he was "extremely disappointed" with Warsame's work on the council and that he would focus on jobs, housing, and police reform, and engage with constituents more than Warsame.[16] At the DFL Ward 6 caucus, Warsame won the most delegates, and Noor joined another challenger, Flynn Forslund, in asking that the caucus results be thrown out.[17] Noor pulled out of the endorsement convention, citing "a potential safety risk for participants".[18]

In September, Noor and Mayor Betsy Hodges endorsed each other.[19] He was also endorsed by state legislators Ilhan Omar, Karen Clark, Raymond Dehn, Jim Davnie, Scott Dibble and Patricia Torres Ray.[20]

Noor lost to Wasame in November, and accused Warsame's campaign of violating election day and campaign laws.[21] He said he would "fight to make sure every vote is counted, and the numerous irregularities that were reported are fully investigated".[21] Noor requested a "discretionary" recount paid for by his own funds.[20] After a recount left the result unchanged, an attorney for Noor withdrew the challenge, but Noor filed a personal lawsuit asking a judge to invalidate the election.[22][23] He claimed to have evidence that "at least 100 people appear to have voted in our election who do not live in Ward 6".[23] A Hennepin County judge dismissed the lawsuit in December of 2017.[23]

Noor has called for the legislature to address racial disparities in health care, education, unemployment, and housing.[29] He supported efforts to pass the Driver's Licenses for All bill, which allows unauthorized immigrants in the state to obtain a driver's license, calling it a "moral obligation".[30]

Noor criticized President Donald Trump for his anti-Somali rhetoric and posts on social media ahead of a 2018 visit.[31] He has defended his predecessor, Ilhan Omar, over attacks from Trump and conservatives, comparing them to claims that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.[32]

Noor's policy priorities were job creation via investments in the green economy, health care issues, and forging partnerships with the University of Minnesota. He also sought to secure more funding for schools, advocated a move away from complete reliance on property taxes, and backed the state government's request for a waiver to get out of No Child Left Behind.[4][5] He supported interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery for Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War, as well as the Affordable Care Act.[5] Noor's campaign also supported same-sex marriage.[33] He was endorsed by former Minneapolis mayor R. T. Rybak and several local progressive groups,[3] including the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Stonewall DFL, and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers.[4]