Keith Ellison

Keith Ellison is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 30th Attorney General of Minnesota since 2019. He made history as the first African American and Muslim American elected to statewide office in Minnesota. Before his tenure as Attorney General, Ellison served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, representing Minnesota's 5th congressional district. He was also the Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2017 to 2018. Throughout his career, Ellison has been a staunch advocate for civil rights, consumer protection, and criminal justice reform .ag.state.mn.us+4+4Wikiquote+4CBS News+3ag.state.mn.us+3Congress.gov+3Ballotpedia+5+5ag.state.mn.us+5CBS News+4Wikiquote+4+4

Ellison's legal career began after earning his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1990. He spent 16 years as a civil rights attorney, including five years as executive director of the Legal Rights Center, a public-interest law firm focused on delivering justice for underserved communities. His legislative accomplishments include founding the Congressional Antitrust Caucus and the Congressional Consumer Justice Caucus, and serving as co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which he helped expand to more than 100 members .+2ag.state.mn.us+2Congress.gov+2

Ellison's quotes often reflect his commitment to justice and equity. He has stated, "Our democracy is not something to be taken for granted. You have to fight for it. You have to commit yourself to working for it—for the long haul" . Another notable quote is, "Not voting is not a protest. It is a surrender" . These statements underscore his belief in active participation and perseverance in the pursuit of justice.+2+2Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights+2BrainyQuote+1Quotesia+1