Deqa Dhalac is a Democratic member of the Maine House of Representatives representing District 120 . Born around 1968 or 1969 in Somalia, she immigrated to the United States in 1992, first settling in Atlanta, Georgia, before moving to Maine in 2005 to flee civil war and support immigrant communities. She became the first African-born female mayor in the U.S. as mayor of South Portland from 2021 to 2022, the first Somali-American mayor in the country, and alongside Mana Abdi, one of the first Somali-Americans in the Maine Legislature. Notable achievements include sponsoring 2024 legislation establishing the Office of New Americans, serving on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee during her second term , and board roles with Mercy Hospital, I’m Your Neighbor Books, Somali Community Center of Maine, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, and Maine Women’s Fund. A resident of South Portland's West End since 2008, she raised three children who attended local public schools.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Master's in Development Policy & Practice from University of New Hampshire ; Master's in Social Work from University of New England .
• Political Experience:
  • Elected to South Portland City Council in 2018 , re-elected unopposed in 2020.
  • Unanimously elected Mayor of South Portland .
  • Elected to Maine House District 120 in November 2022 after nomination to replace Victoria Morales; assumed office December 7, 2022; serving second term as of 2026.
  • Announced in early 2026 she would not seek reelection due to a "hostile and unsafe" climate.

Prior roles include co-founder of Cross-Cultural Community Services, co-executive/assistant executive director at Gateway Community Services , Family Engagement and Cultural Responsiveness Specialist with Maine Department of Education, and work with Center for Grieving Children, Opportunity Alliance, and City of Portland's refugee and minority health programs; occupation listed as social worker.