Longtime Rep. Kahn Turns Back Noor Challenge

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — One of Minnesota's longest-serving lawmakers has survived a primary challenge from a Somali-American activist.

Rep. Phyllis Kahn won Tuesday's DFL nomination for her Minneapolis House district. She defeated Mohamud Noor, who harnessed the energy of the local immigrant community to give Kahn one of the strongest challenges since her first election in 1972.

Noor was hoping to become the first Somali-born state lawmaker in Minnesota and perhaps the nation. But Kahn took more than 54 percent of the vote to Noor's 45.5 percent.

The district of the University of Minnesota and surrounding neighborhoods is heavily Democratic, and Kahn is seen as likely to win a 22nd term this fall.

The 77-year-old former biophysicist chairs the committee that controls arts and environmental funding in Minnesota.

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