Rep. Phyllis Kahn shamefully disenfranchises young voters

As a Senate District 60 DFL convention delegate, I had the opportunity April 9 to watch the House 60B endorsement process firsthand, in which Rep. Phyllis Kahn was challenged by Ilhan Omar and Mohamud Noor for the endorsement. Before the convention, Kahn had told the Star Tribune she wouldn't go on to a primary if another candidate were endorsed.

As a resident of District 60A, I have no personal stake in the outcome of the House race in 60B, the district that represents the University of Minnesota and surrounding area. But as chair of the University of Minnesota Student Senate, I do have a stake in the interests of University of Minnesota students.

So I became dismayed throughout the day of the convention, as I watched a top aide from Kahn's campaign consult with an aide from Noor's campaign. Presumably, they were working together to actively block Omar from the endorsement — thus freeing Kahn to run in the primary and effectively suppressing the democratic voice of university students.

Kahn, the 22-term incumbent, has long styled herself as a progressive feminist, having pushed important legislation on many issues, including the environment, women's rights and economic security. She has an undeniable record of accomplishment over the last 44 years. Omar, her chief opponent, credits Kahn with "paving the way for women to partake politically and in activism."

Omar herself is a vocal community advocate and activist in DFL politics. She has served as a policy aide to Minneapolis City Council Member Andrew Johnson and as policy director for Women Organizing Women. Along with strong support from residents of the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, she also enjoys the overwhelming support of students from the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College for her efforts on issues ranging from higher education to equity to criminal justice reform.

Throughout the five ballots at the convention, Omar consistently received 54 to 55 percent, while Kahn received 33 to 35 percent. Noor was at about 11 percent before dropping out after the second ballot. But rather than switching to vote for either Omar or Kahn, Noor's supporters chose to stay an additional 2½ hours only to vote for no endorsement. As a result, no candidate received the required 60 percent, and all three will go on to the primary in August.

An August primary is particularly significant in 60B because the vast majority of university (and Augsburg) students are away from the district for the summer. Therefore, a large portion of Omar's supporters would have difficulty participating. Of course, a sitting representative has the right to run for re-election. But if her strategy is predicated upon disenfranchising 18- to 24-year-olds (who make up 55 percent of 60B's voting-age population), Kahn would be keeping her job by silencing the largest voting bloc in her district.

These would be troubling statements from any candidate, but they are especially jarring coming from a self-described lifelong feminist. To reduce Omar (or any female candidate) to her appearance is not only disrespectful to Omar, but also dismissing as superficial the intentions and intelligence of Omar's supporters — many of whom are university students.

To that point, in that same radio interview, Kahn told host Jack Tomczak: "[Omar]'s a very attractive candidate to young people. People tell me, 'She's my age, and she's ethnically diverse, and that's what I want in the Legislature.' They don't care about results, and they don't care about positions. … You know, I don't think it's legitimate."

To another reporter, Kahn joked: "I hope people stay involved. I hope they get involved to have a little bit more understanding of the process, understanding enough to vote for me."

Apparently, to Kahn, these "youngsters" just don't know any better, and so their perspectives are illegitimate — unless, of course, they're supporting her.

Kahn's statements and actions aren't what one expects from a progressive feminist who respects the largest constituency in her district. Rather, this sounds like a lifelong politician trying desperately to keep her job.

Apparently, that principle only applies when she's not trying to secure yet another term.