Keith Ellison

Keith Maurice Ellison was born on August 4, 1963, and is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the 30th Attorney General of Minnesota since January 7, 2019. He is a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party .

Ellison is a historic figure in American politics, being the first African American elected to partisan statewide office in Minnesota and the first Muslim elected to statewide office in the United States. He was elected Attorney General in 2018 with a margin of over 100,000 votes and was reelected in 2022 with 50.4% of the vote.

Education and Early Career

Ellison earned his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in 1986. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota and began his law career in 1990. He spent 16 years as an attorney specializing in civil rights and defense law before entering elected office. He served as executive director of the Legal Rights Center, a public-interest law firm, for five years, where he oversaw a team of attorneys providing legal services to vulnerable Minnesotans.

Political Experience

*Minnesota House of Representatives *
Before advancing to Congress, Ellison served four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

*U.S. House of Representatives *
Ellison represented Minnesota's 5th Congressional District for 12 years, representing the Minneapolis region. He served on the House Financial Services Committee for all 12 years, overseeing the financial services industry, housing sector, and Wall Street regulation. He built a reputation as a progressive leader and championed consumer protections, worker rights, environmental protections, and civil rights. Notable legislative accomplishments include protections for credit card holders and tenant and renter rights. He founded the Congressional Antitrust and Consumer Justice Caucuses and served as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He also served as Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2017 to 2018.

*Minnesota Attorney General *
As Attorney General, Ellison serves as the chief legal officer of Minnesota and represents over 100 state agencies, boards, and commissions. He has prioritized consumer protection litigation against corporations including fossil fuel companies, tobacco companies, gun manufacturers, and pharmaceutical opioid makers. His office handles a wide range of consumer protection work and public safety initiatives.