Keith Ellison was born and raised in Detroit, MI and moved to Minneapolis for law school, graduating in 1990. After law school, Ellison worked as a civil rights lawyer and an organizer around social justice issues. In 2002, he was elected to the Minnesota State Legislature. In 2006, he became the first Muslim elected to Congress and in 2010, became Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the largest caucus of Democrats. Minnesota's 5th Congressional District has one of the highest rates of voter turnout in the nation. In 2015, Ellison unveiled the Voters First Campaign, which aimed to increase voter turnout through grassroots organizing, campaign coordination, and low-dollar fundraising.

Keith Maurice Ellison (born August 4, 1963) is an American politician and lawyer who has been the U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2007 and Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee since 2017. Ellison is a member of the Democratic Party (DFL), the Minnesota state Democratic Party affiliate. The district centers on Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. He is a vice-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and a Chief Deputy Whip, and also serves on the House Committee on Financial Services.

Ellison was the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress and, along with Andre Carson of Indiana, is one of two Muslims currently in CongressHe is also the first African American to have been elected to the U.S. House from Minnesotar

In November 2016, progressive groups and United States senators, including Bernie Sanders of Vermont, supported Ellison for chair of the Democratic National Committee. On February 25, 2017, minutes after defeating him on the second ballot, newly elected Chairman Tom Perez motioned for Ellison to be elected his Deputy Chair, which was approved by a unanimous voice vote of DNC members

Early life, education, and career Keith Ellison, the third of five sons, was raised Catholic in Detroit, Michigan, by his parents, Leonard Ellison, a social worker and psychiatrist, and Clida (Martinez) Ellison. Ellison and three of his brothers became lawyers; his other brother became a doctor. One of Ellison's brothers is also the pastor of the Baptist "Church of the New Covenant" in Detroit. Ellison' s youth was influenced by the involvement of his family in the Civil Rights Movement, including his grandfather's work as a member of the NAACP in Louisianam