In 2022, two Somali immigrants from the Columbus, Ohio, metro area were elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. For years, Columbus was targeted to receive Somali immigrants being brought to America with federal grants.
Ismail Mohamed, who came to America in 2005, ran his Democratic primary re-election campaign in the Somali language. Then, he gave his entire victory speech in Somali. His opponents were another Somali immigrant and a White female.