This piece is being published in coordination with Sister District, an organization working to build progressive power in state legislatures. Critical and life-altering policies, including abortion access, trans rights, voting rights, fair wages and conditions for working people and families are increasingly coming from often overlooked state legislatures rather than Washington, DC. Our Historic Firsts Series uplifts inspiring, historic firsts among recently elected state lawmakers, with a focus on women, people of color, young folks, LGBTQIA+ folks, and folks from nontraditional backgrounds.
Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten has a specific idea of what politicians should do once they win their elections: actually govern. In 2022, Oumou Verbeten, 28, became one of the first three Black women to ever be elected to the Minnesota State Senate (meaning, she points out to me, that the state existed for 164 years before electing a Black woman to its Senate), and the legislative session that has elapsed since her election has been called “transformational” by members of her party (and “bonkers” by Republicans). With Democrats (or as Minnesota calls them, the DFL Party – Democratic-Farmer-Laborers) holding control of the state government by a one-seat majority in the Senate, their list of accomplishments is lengthy: they “codified abortion rights, paid family and medical leave, sick leave, transgender rights protections, drivers licenses for undocumented residents, [and] restoration of voting rights for people when they are released from prison or jail,” according to MinnPost. Oumou Verbeten is proud of these accomplishments but explains them simply: when the Democrats previously held control of the State government, she says, there was a fear of “taking it too far because then we’re going to lose the next election. If I have an opportunity right now, I’m going to take it. Even if I’m going to lose in four years, this is the right thing to do. There’s so much good we can do.”
Teen Vogue caught up with Oumou Verbeten on Zoom to talk to her about being the first queer Black woman to serve in the Minnesota Senate, the weight of making history, and what brings her hope.
This conversation has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
Teen Vogue: Did you always know you wanted to go into politics?
Clare Oumou Verbeten: My parents weren't necessarily in politics, but I think it was really clear that our life and our livelihood was dependent on the people that were in office. My mom immigrated here from Senegal in the ‘80s. She owns a small cleaning business and is someone who has been on the front lines of the pandemic. My dad is now a retired public school teacher and a union member. I just always felt like Democrats were fighting for my family and I want to be a part of that.
TV: What does it mean to you to be one of the first Black women ever elected to the Minnesota Senate? Does that accomplishment ever feel heavy?
COV: It was [164] years of our statehood and there was never a Black woman. That’s just wild. Sometimes it does [have a lot of weight]. One of the biggest reasons I ran is because my district includes Falcon Heights, where Philando Castile was killed by police. Then in 2020, seeing George Floyd spark a worldwide uprising. But that starting here in Minnesota, our community, I just was so fed up and I just didn't see those champions for that work and for the reforms to our criminal legal system. And I know people are counting on me and I'm the only Black person on the [Judiciary and Public Safety] Committee. I'm the only young one on that committee. I'm often the only the most progressive voice on that committee, and that can be a burden, definitely.
TV: Do you think there’s a need to focus on state government as opposed to national government?
COV: I think state government is the most important level of government there is. The state just touches everything, like policy, budget wise, pretty much any issue that you really care about, the state is going to have some level of power over that. My platform was education and racial justice and health care and housing. And for every piece of legislation that I carried, the tie there for me was: what are the racial disparities here? Because they’re [among] the worst in the country in Minnesota in pretty much every indicator you can think of. With policing, we were able to severely limit no-knock warrants. There’s a statewide body camera release policy now so when deadly force is used, families need to be able to see that information right away. Simple pieces of accountability and transparency, those are all things that the state can do.
TV: What do you hope lawmakers across the country take from this groundbreaking legislative session in Minnesota?
COV: Just like when you have an opportunity, take it. For me, especially as a Black woman and a queer woman and a young woman and someone who lives blocks from where Philando Castile was murdered, if I get that opportunity to make that change, I'm going to take it. Lives can't wait, right? Lives are on the line. We don't make those changes. I don't want to be thinking, What could we have done to prevent another Black person from getting killed by the police here? I want to do everything I can in these moments to prevent that from happening.
TV: What is bringing you hope right now?
COV: Young people bring me hope. I just think young folks do have a lot of the answers and they're impatient. They're done waiting. As more and more of those folks step into office and step into those positions of power, I think our country will be better off.
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