Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison secured his party’s nomination Tuesday in Minnesota’s attorney general race.
Despite recent domestic abuse allegations, Ellison beat four other Democrats to advance to November. The allegations surfaced in a Facebook post by the son of his ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan.
Monhan later confirmed her son’s Facebook post. Ellison, who is also the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, has denied all accusations.
“Karen and I were in a long-term relationship which ended in 2016, and I still care deeply for her well-being,” Ellison told CBS Minnesota. “I never behaved this way, and any characterization otherwise is false.”
Ellison was the first Muslim elected to Congress. Also on Tuesday night, Democrats nominated a Muslim woman to succeed him. Ellison has emerged as a leader in progressive circles, narrowly losing a race for DNC chair last year, but has also consistently courted controversy throughout his six terms in the House.
