Somali Candidate Eyes Milestone

  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Somali immigrants in the U.S. are looking to a Minnesota legislative race for the latest evidence of their ability to climb the political ladder.

Minnesota is home to an estimated 30,000 Somalis, and Somali-Americans have won seats on the Minneapolis school board and city council in recent years.

Their next target is a state House seat, where 36-year-old Mohamud Noor is facing a 77-year-old incumbent first elected before he was born. The winner of their Democratic primary Aug. 12 will be a heavy favorite in November.

Noor lost a bid for state Senate three years ago, but has more money this time around and a smaller district that concentrates the power of the Somali vote.

It's believed he would be the first Somali-American elected to a state Legislature.