Aisha Elmquist

Aisha Elmquist is the Democratic candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives District 40A in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Republican Luis Withrow in a race with no incumbent.[1] An attorney, she describes herself in a Ballotpedia survey as a civil rights attorney and public servant.[1][2]

Aisha Elmquist graduated from Mounds View High School, earned a bachelor's degree from Carleton College in 2002, and received a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2007, according to Ballotpedia.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, she said she has built her career across the nonprofit, business and government sectors, helping families access housing, elder care, disability services and mental health care.[2] She described herself as a longtime Arden Hills resident raising two children with her husband.[2]

Elmquist defeated Murwo Mohamed in the August 11, 2026 Democratic primary, 5,601 votes to 439.[1] In the survey, she named affordability, strong public schools, and protecting rights and community security as her key messages, saying she would work to expand housing and child care options and would protect reproductive freedom and due process, support gun violence prevention and protect clean water.[2] She listed endorsements including the Minnesota DFL, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Education Minnesota and the St. Paul Area Chamber PAC.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.